NBC’s Sunday Night Football opener for Chiefs-Colts didn’t just set the stage - it set off a wave of backlash.
The network leaned on comedian and self-described Kansas City Chiefs superfan Nikki Glaser for a flashy intro video, and she wasted no time going all-in on Kansas City’s star power, its recent run of dominance and the pop-culture pull around Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. The promo framed the Chiefs as a team plenty of people love to hate, with Glaser saying, “When you’re on top of your game, everybody roots for your downfall… People love a winner-until they win too much.”
She then pushed the Chiefs’ comeback angle after their missed postseason last year, saying that “for Chiefs Kingdom, the comeback starts now. You can never count out the Chiefs.”
The video also blasted Taylor Swift’s “Ready for It?” in the background while Glaser wore a custom sequined No. 87 jersey that read “Taylor’s Husband” on the back instead of Kelce.
From there, she doubled down on the Swift angle, saying, “It’s safe to say the world’s greatest singer-songwriter is now a permanent fixture at Arrowhead.” She also joked that she spoke for all “Swifties” in wanting even more stadium broadcast cutaways.
That approach didn’t sit well with a lot of viewers. Fans blasted NBC for what they saw as a one-sided promo that centered the Chiefs while barely acknowledging the Colts.
One fan wrote, “Absolute f-king joke that the Colts were just ignored in any promos,” while another said, “I’m glad everyone is calling out NBC for this BS. This is a national broadcast, you can’t just act like the other team doesn’t exist, even though we all know you’re cheering for the Chiefs, just shameless and disgusting,”
Others were even harsher. “Absolutely f-king disgrace and big middle finger to actual fans of the damn sport,” one wrote, and another called it the “Most disgusting glaze introduction ever, you should be ashamed,”
Meanwhile, the game itself carries a simple early-season setup: the Chiefs are trying to move to 2-0, while the Colts are trying to avoid starting 0-2.
In Other News...
Colts Just Lost The One Receiver Their Passing Game Needs Most
Alec Pierces availability has been a major part of the Colts passing-game puzzle, and Sunday brought another setback when the wideout was carted off with an apparent left heel injury against the Chiefs. Pierce had already been working through heel discomfort tied to offseason ankle surgery, so the latest injury only adds to the concern around a player whose speed and vertical routes help stretch defenses and open up the rest of the offense.
For Indianapolis, the timing is especially tough because Pierce has become the teams primary deep threat. When he is on the field, the Colts can threaten more than just the short and intermediate game, which makes his status worth tracking closely going forward. What happens next with the injury is now the bigger story for a passing attack that can least afford to lose its field-stretching option. [Read more 🡒]
Travis Kelce Brings Unexpected Off-Field Drama Into Chiefs Colts Spotlight
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According to the case, investor funds were misused for personal expenses and fraudulent payments, and Kelce was identified as one of the victims whose money was caught up in the scheme. For Indianapolis, it is another reminder that the Chiefs-Cults storyline often stretches well beyond the field, with major names and unexpected off-field developments following Kansas City wherever it goes. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Were Nearly Burned By A Brutal Overtime Rules Mistake
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Patrick Mahomes later acknowledged he was trying to take advantage of the mistake, and the referee had to step in to clear up the choice with Bynum before Indianapolis settled on starting on defense. It was the kind of sideline wrinkle that can get lost in the shuffle, but for a Colts team trying to survive a high-leverage overtime, it was a reminder that even the smallest procedural miscue can nearly become a costly one. [Read more 🡒]