Kansas City Chiefs schedule: Five most important games

Week 17: Oakland Raiders

Dec 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs the ball against the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

You are probably thinking, “This Verderame guy is a dope. They better win this game!” You would be correct, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t an important game. The Chiefs have blown games in recent years that should have been victories, including a loss to the 0-10 Raiders last year. It was a disgrace, and it cost the team a playoff spot.

Getting the Cleveland Browns and Oakland in Week 16 and 17, respectively, should be a huge bonus. Kansas City has to take care of business, learning how to stay focused even when the rest of the world expects a quick and easy win. The Raiders will likely be out of the playoff picture for a month by the time this game is played, but that doesn’t mean they won’t show up with cruel intent.

Kansas City needs to play with fire, looking to crush an inferior opponent from the outset. Assuming this game means something for the Chiefs, it will tell me plenty if they go out and handle the job without putting fans through a three-hour panic session.

Next: Denver, Denver, Denver