Chiefs Will Have 7th Hardest Schedule in 2014 According to NFL
By Jason Seibel
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
If there was any question about the Kansas City Chiefs strength of schedule last season as the reason they went 9-0 to start the year, that won’t happen again. According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport’s twitter feed, the Chiefs will have the seventh most difficult schedule this year.
Chiefs are 7th RT @mikeclyne07: @RapSheet surprising that KC is not on that list too...
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2014
In fact, the four teams in the AFC West are all in the top seven, with the Oakland Raiders having the most difficult schedule this year.
Per NFLN research, the #Raiders have the toughest strength of schedule in 2014 (.578). Then Broncos, Rams, Chargers & 49ers (tied for 4th)
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2014
Keep in mind, this stat is based on the Chiefs opponents’ records from the 2013 season. Of course, at first look, their 2013 schedule appeared much more difficult than it ended up being. Facing a perennial playoff team like the New York Giants, a powerhouse like the Houston Texans and an elite quarterback like RGIII and the Washington Redskins proved to be much more difficult on paper than on the field as the Chiefs beat those teams handily.
That’s not to say that the teams the Chiefs will face in 2014 will follow suit. With arguably the two best divisions in the NFL — the AFC West and the NFC West — matched up against each other this year, you can imagine there will be some good football ahead. I don’t see teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks getting worse this off season.
It should be interesting to see how the Chiefs bounce back in year two of the Andy Reid era.
What do you think, Addicts? What does the Chiefs strength of schedule hold in store for the team this year?