We are 50 days until the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots kick off for the 2017 NFL season opener.
Fifty days until Chiefs-Patriots, and the kickoff of the NFL season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 19, 2017
For that, I have 50 reasons I am excited for Chiefs-Patriots:
- Playing on Thursday so we can still enjoy the first do-nothing-all-day-Sunday of the fall.
- Kelce vs. Gronk.
- Kelce vs. Gronk dance-off.
- Marcus Peters in press coverage.
- The first time I get annoyed that Peters is playing off and then he’s in perfect position for a pass breakup.
- Seeing the best safety duo in the NFL lined up (I’m not talking about the Patriots).
- The first turnover of the year. I’m betting on one of the safeties.
- Derrick Johnson in uniform and actually playing after his Achilles.
- When I have to remind myself DJ is 34, not 24.
- The first “DJ Special”.
- Justin Houston!
- That first pass rush where we can say, “OK, Houston is back.”
- The first slow-mo on how fast Dee Ford gets off the line.
- Tamba Hali’s hand-fighting.
- Chris Jones going bonkers in between every snap.
- Everything Chris Jones.
- Bennie Logan stuffing the run.
- When we recognize the first big wrinkle from Belichick (that we know is coming).
- When we realize Belichick was spot on. Gotta respect greatness.
- Spencer Ware ripping off another 129 receiving yards just like last year’s opener.
- Kareem Hunt catching passes out of the backfield.
- The post-Maclin group of receivers.
- Tyreek Hill’s first go route.
- Tyreek Hill taking a handoff.
- How the Patriots handle Tyreek Hill in the backfield.
- How they handle him on returns.
- Chris Conley snatching a ball out of the air.
- Seeing which receiver steps up.
- Demarcus Robinson.
- The quarterback...
- It would be pretty awesome to see Alex Smith out-duel Brady.
- Yes, I said out-duel.
- Seeing Patrick Mahomes in uniform.
- Over-analyzing Mahomes’s demeanor on the sidelines during the game.
- The first “screw it just throw it” pass to Kelce and he catches it.
- The first time you think Kelce is too jacked up.
- Andy Reid staying calm through it all.
- Belichick and Big Red interacting before and after the game.
- Belichick’s wardrobe.
- Tom Brady getting frustrated.
- The TV cameras catching Brady saying four-letter words.
- When you realize tens of millions of people are watching and the Chiefs are playing.
- The first “hey, maybe they can do this” of the game.
- The first time Tyreek is back there for a return and they show his highlights from last season against the Broncos and Raiders (especially the Raiders one).
- Watching all the traffic come into the site that day.
- Encouraging you to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
- The morning of gameday.
- Knowing you can eat whatever you want because it’s gameday.
- Jackstack barbecue sauce.
- Burnt ends.