The Kansas City Chiefs travel to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears on Saturday afternoon in the preseason opener for both teams.
As the Kansas City Chiefs travel to face the Chicago Bears on Saturday afternoon, a preseason matchup really isn’t anything to get all that excited about for most franchises. For the home team today, however, it might be among the single most important exhibition games in the National Football League this month.
The Bears’ roster is dealing with a number of injuries at key positions, but even if every player was healthy, this would still be one of the least talented teams in the NFL. Ryan Poles, the general manager for the Bears, is in his first year and is likely well aware of the years it’s going to take to rebuild this team in his image. That journey began with this first offseason, but he likely has his eyes on some familiar faces as the Bears prepare to host the Chiefs.
Remember that Poles was also a former exec for the Chiefs going back to the Scott Pioli era when he was first hired as a scout in 2009. This means that Poles is intimately familiar with most of the names on the Chiefs’ current roster. As for K.C., they are one of the NFL’s deepest teams and several good players are going to be released (or traded) because there’s simply not enough room for everyone.
While NFL teams try their best to stay on top of every other team in the league in order to predict which players might wiggle free, the truth is that active roster cuts will bring an overwhelming amount of free agents to the market. It’s impossible to have an in-depth view of each and every one, which is why some of these preseason games are important. This game gives the Bears a chance to watch some of the Chiefs’ role players and developmental prospects up close.
Don’t be surprised if the Bears end up grabbing a player or two from the Chiefs and perhaps that means this very game will create a new job for someone who is able to impress the Bears for the opposing team today. That makes this game in particular more important than most.
HOW TO WATCH CHIEFS VS. BEARS
WHEN: Saturday, August 13, 12:00 p.m. C.T.
WHERE: Soldier Field, Chicago
WATCH: NFL Network, KSHB (local)
LISTEN: WDAF, 106.5 FM