SportsBeat KC

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A Chiefs flop in finale quickly forgotten; elimination season begins Jan 04, 2021

Show notes

Close the book on the Chiefs’ regular season. Sunday’s 38-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers leaves the Chiefs record at 14-2, the best in franchise history.

Among those who didn’t play for the Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Eric Fisher, Tyrann Mathieu, Chris Jones and Frank Clark. Several reserves like, running back Darwin Thompson, wide receiver Byron Pringle and defensive end Tim Ward played well. So don’t get caught up in the result.

The Star’s Vahe Gregorian, Sam Mellinger, Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell joined host Blair Kerkhoff on SportsBeat Live to discuss the game, and the playoffs as the Chiefs head into the postseason with the top seed.

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The Chiefs earned this break. What comes next will be tough...and define their legacy

For Chiefs, 2020 was great, but now it’s all about “What have you done lately?”

Regular season done, playoffs up next. What we learned as Chiefs lost to the Chargers

The Chiefs played mostly backups Sunday and Darwin Thompson stood out. Who else?

Chiefs report card: Senior skip day is over, the final exam period as arrived

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Breaking down the Chiefs’ games without starters under coach Andy Reid Dec 31, 2020

Show notes

The Chiefs play host to the Los Angeles Chargers in their regular-season finale Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, and Andy Reid has decided some starters, like quarterback Patrick Mahomes, will sit this one out. Chad Henne is getting the nod in his place.

Star columnists Sam Mellinger and Vahe Gregorian, along with beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell, prognosticate who will and won’t play and break down Reid’s history of resting starters.

Plus viewers weigh in on the Chiefs ... it’s all here in this episode of SportsBeat Live, now presented as the KC Star’s final daily sports podcast of 2020.

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Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill among six players not practicing Wednesday ahead of season finale

What can we expect with Chad Henne in charge of Chiefs offense on Sunday

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SportsBeat KC looks ahead to ’21: Will Chiefs repeat? Royals on rise? A KU-MU Sweet 16? Dec 30, 2020

Show notes

The finish line for 2020 here. What will 2021 bring in sports?

At least initially, more of the same when it comes to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, with empty or mostly empty stadiums and arenas and altered schedules in some sports, like college basketball.

But familiar also means more Chiefs success, Royals optimism, Kansas basketball winning ... and how about those Missouri Tigers? Star columnists Sam Mellinger and Vahe Gregorian don their forecasting caps and look ahead to a year that comes with hope that sports can do the sort of silly things — make us care about games and laundry, for instance, and keep us up at night with anticipation — when we’re living in a healthy environment.

Oh, and will the Chiefs win the Super Bowl? We project that one, too.

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Mellinger Minutes: Chiefs deserve (need) rest, Mahomes stuggles (?), and a 14-1 team

Ramifications of who plays this week loom large, but Chiefs’ Reid gets benefit of doubt

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A bowl of disappointment for Tigers, who were forced to end season early Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

The Missouri Tigers somehow got in 10 football games this season. There won’t be an 11th.

The team’s current bout with COVID-19 arrive too late to overcome, so Mizzou had to bow out of the Music City Bowl against Iowa, which had been scheduled for Wednesday in Nashville.

This was to be the final chapter of an unexpectedly good season for the Tigers, who finished 5-5 and cracked the College Football Playoff rankings for one week in Eli Drinkwitz’s first season.

Beat writer Souichi Terada discusses the decision here and takes a peek at Mizzou’s next basketball game, scheduled for Wednesday against Tennessee. After a break in this edition of The Star’s daily sports podcast, you’ll hear from Drinkwitz on the disappointment of not playing in the postseason.

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Mizzou’s COVID-19 timeline, and what prompted the Tigers to drop out of the Music City Bowl

Mizzou football, with COVID-19 numbers rising, drops out of this week’s Music City Bowl

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The never-a-dull-moment Chiefs prevail in another heart-stopper Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

Two things have been true about the Chiefs for the past two months. Their games are close and they win them.

So it was Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs survived 17-14 when Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo, who had made 27 straight field goal attempts, missed from 39 yards. The kick appeared to be blown off course and the winds of fortune have been with the Chiefs all season.

They clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs with the triumph, and we talked about it on SportsBeat KC with Sam Mellinger, Vahe Gregorian, Sam McDowell and Herbie Teope.

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The Chiefs won and secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed but that’s not what we’re talking about

On a day Kelce set glittery records, grit and tough play defined his game

Andy Reid confronts the decision every coach craves: play or rest starters in Week 17

The Chiefs keep winning close games. A good sign or something ominous?

What we learned as Chiefs scraped past Atlanta Falcons, secure coveted AFC playoff bye

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KC started 2020 atop sports world, then, like rest of world, got sick Dec 24, 2020

Show notes

Somehow, sports managed to get through 2020.

Most seasons were reduced; some major events, like the NCAA Tournament, were canceled. The COVID-19 pandemic created havoc on schedules like nothing since World War II, or the previous pandemic 100 years ago. Seasons were played largely without fans or at greatly reduced capacity.

Also enduring, SportsBeat KC. The Star’s daily sports podcast carried on. It’s time to look back at some of the events that shaped a truly historic year in sports. Today’s show recalls some of the year’s headline events, starting with perhaps the biggest in Kansas City’s sports history: the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory.

After that, everything it seemed, was affected by COVID-19.

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Should starters sit out Week 17 if Chiefs clinch top seed vs. Falcons? Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

What do with the starters in Week 17 if the Chiefs beat the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC? That was among the topics discussed in this SportsBeat Live session with Vahe Gregorian, Sam McDowell and Herbie Teope, along with host Blair Kerkhoff.

Presented here in podcast form, reporters and columnists who regularly cover the Chiefs analyze the team’s plans for a possible lineup without linebacker Anthony Hitchens (who’s on the NFL’s COVID-19 list) and injured running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Plus, we respond to reader questions and comments.

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SportsBeat KC: Talking KU hoops, Mizzou bowl matchup, Skylar Thompson’s return Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

Christmas week typically would be a slow time in college sports. But the pandemic has shuffled schedules and there is plenty to discuss, like Kansas’ big basketball game tonight against West Virginia, Missouri’s bowl destination and the announcement by quarterback Skylar Thompson that he was returning to Kansas State next season.

Beat writers Jesse Newell, Gary Bedore, Souichi Terada and Kellis Robinett weigh in on these stories and more with host Blair Kerkhoff on SportsBeat KC.

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Quick scout: Here’s the luck (?) factor in KU-West Virginia matchup

Mizzou Tigers headed to Music City Bowl to face Iowa on Dec. 30

Skylar Thompson’s return will add intrigue to Kansas State’s quarterback situation next season

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Chiefs are fun but also tough and resilient as they proved against Saints Dec 21, 2020

Show notes

The Chiefs followed a familiar script in their 32-29 victory over the New Orleans Saints. They took an early lead, didn’t hold on to it, got it back, stretched it out, then hung on at the end.

Also familiar: They beat a terrific team away from home to improve to 8-0 in road games for the first time in franchise history. We talked about it with you on SportsBeat Live with Sam Mellinger, Vahe Gregorian, Sam McDowell and Herbie Teope along with host Blair Kerkhoff. Now it’s a SportsBeat KC podcast.

Hear how we broke down this team that is having an amazing season.

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Still winning: Why this victory over the Saints was Chiefs’ most impressive yet

As seen again vs. Saints, Chiefs’ holding on is more beauty mark than fatal flaw

How the Chiefs solved their red zone issues: By being themselves. Here’s what we mean

What we learned: Chiefs took Saints best punch and still walked away winners

There’s no place like...the road when it comes to Andy Reid’s Chiefs

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How the Jayhawks made big plays on both ends late to beat Texas Tech Dec 18, 2020

Show notes

It took big plays on both ends of the floor in the final 14 second,s but KU won its 30th conference opener Thursday with a one-point victory at Texas Tech. KC product Ochai Agbaji finished with 23 points, including the game-winner, and was the Jayhawks’ offensive star.

Beat writers Gary Bedore and Jesse Newell break down the game, and especially the Jayhawks’ final flurry, on this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, with host Blair Kerkhoff. Also explored are the progress of the NCAA case against the Jayhawks and how the KU football program fared on national signing day.

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Kansas beat Texas Tech in thriller on late hoop by Agbaji and final defensive stop

Why Bill Self put his hands on his head just before KU game-winner vs. Texas Tech

AD says KU basketball’s NCAA case timeline has been altered. Here’s why

KU Jayhawks football, led by local standout, lands strong Signing Day class

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