Chiefs to Play Lions in London in 2015

The NFL is a world brand and I understand trying to play games that others in the world can see live. I mean some of the biggest European soccer clubs play games in the United States every year. But wait those are friendlies, otherwise known as preseason games. The Chiefs will be playing the Lions in week 8 on the NFL season in London. This game will be right in the middle of the season for the Chiefs and will likely have a huge impact for both teams on their playoff chances. Also more good news for Chiefs fans, this is one of our eight home games. Which means the Chiefs will only have seven (hopefully more with the playoffs) games that count at Arrowhead. Giving up a home game is huge in the NFL and even more so against a likely playoff team in the Lions. I have seen the games in London and the fans are in to the game, but it will not have a home field advantage of Arrowhead.

The one thing the NFL has done this year is that they have given the teams playing in London their bye week the week after the game. While this is nice, you are still losing some of the time off the players get, and need, in the middle of the season. I am sure the team has to be making more money from playing over in England then they would be in having a home game at Arrowhead.

The two other games in London next year will be Miami hosting the NY Jets and Jacksonville hosting Buffalo. With these announced three teams will be going back to London for the second year in a row, Miami, Jacksonville and Detroit. Who are the fans going to be rooting for in these games the team that is the home team, or the team they saw play last year? In a league where one game can be the difference between making the playoffs or sitting at home watching them in January it is a huge risk giving up a home game. It is even a greater risk to do this against a team that just did this and will have the experience of making the long trip.

I really hope this works out for the team, but I am just concerned that this could be the difference between making the playoffs in 2015 and not. Let's just say that I am not a fan of this game.