Chiefs Schedule Release - Part 1
A way too early look at the first quarter of the season for the Chiefs
When the 2021 season ended we knew who the Chiefs would play and we even knew where they would play, but until yesterday when didn’t know the order or when they would play. At this point, we have the entire picture of how the Chiefs’ schedule has played out and it is definitely a rough one. Even before the schedule release, it was being talked about as the hardest schedule in the NFL in 2022.
Before I jump in and talk about the different matchups for the first four games of the season I want to address why it’s the hardest schedule in the NFL.
This shows that the Chiefs have the hardest SOS (strength of schedule) in the NFL in 2022. This is based on expected win totals in 2022 not based on last year’s win totals which is how there is a difference. This is based on betting lines that will continue to change up until opening day and throughout the season. The NFL’s graphics that are being put out and talked about state that the toughest schedule is the Rams as you can see here:
But as I’ve stated this is a flawed logic as the teams have greatly changed from last year and they are basing their winning percentage on last year. Oh and let’s also not forget to mention that the Chiefs made history with the first eight games of their season against teams with a winning record in 2021.
Enough about the toughest schedule in the NFL let’s dive into the games.
Week 1 - 9/11 - At Arizona, CBS 3:25CT
For Kansas City this is going to be one of the best ways to start the schedule other than a team like the Texans or Jaguars. Arizona has a lot of questions to answer after a tumultuous offseason with their young QB. They also will be without star wideout DeAndre Hopkins in this game so it is good to catch the Cardinals early on.
The Chiefs have a lot of new parts to be getting ready for NFL competition and they have to be ready for a huge week 2 showdown with the Chargers. The Cardinals should give the Chiefs a good game but this is a game the Chiefs should win.
Week 2 - Los Angeles Chargers, Amazon Prime - Thursday Night Football 7:15 CT
In what seemed like the game of the year at the time the Chiefs and Chargers went head to head last year in a thriller in Kansas City. Amazon is hoping for a repeat of last year’s showdown in KC and this will be the first game of Amazon’s new primetime package. This is a huge test for the Chiefs early in the season and it doesn’t help that it’s on a short week again this year.
Playing at home will help Kansas City but this should be a close game. The Chiefs have to start the season hot on offense to take pressure off the defense. This will be a huge test for both units as there have been significant changes to both in the offseason. Kansas City should emerge victorious in this game as I still see them as the better team than the Chargers.
Week 3 - At Indianapolis Colts - CBS - 12:00CT
This game is important for the Chiefs early in the season. It should give them a great litmus test to see whether or not they’ve been able to address the run-stopping woes that have plagued them in the past. They are also catching the Colts early in the season where they are again in the midst of an offseason QB change.
Jonathan Taylor is the engine that runs the Colts offense and the Chiefs ability to slow him down looks to be paramount in this faceoff. If KC can contain Taylor from a huge day it should go a long way to helping secure a third win of the season as it will put more pressure on a passing attack that’s still trying to mesh. The Chiefs should win this game and start the season 3-0.
Week 4 - At Tampa Bay Buccaneers - NBC Sunday Night Football - 7:20CT
Tom Brady is back in Tampa Bay for likely his last season. The Bucs will be pulling out all the stops trying to get back to the Superbowl in 2022. Kansas City’s offense is going to be in a better position than the last time they faced Tampa Bay with their newly built offensive line but will it be enough to beat Tom in Tampa?
The silver lining for Kansas City is that Brady may be without Godwin in the early part of the 2022 season and even if he is available it is likely going to be a player not running close to 100%. Kansas City can win this game and continue the season hot but right now it feels like the Bucs at their home is a more likely scenario for a loss for the Chiefs. Right now I’m picking the Chiefs for a loss here in Tampa but a lot can change before the season starts.
The rest of the season
I’ll be doing more write-ups about the rest of the games in the coming days. Let me know what you think and what you think their record will be. Lots more analysis on the way as well as we get into the slowest time of the NFL schedule between now and training camp.