Kansas City Chiefs 2015 schedule: Blessing or curse?
The second thing that may jump out at you is a sentiment something like this: “Holy crap! The beginning of the year is brutal!” And for all of you thinking that, yes, you are absolutely right. Through the first quarter of the schedule the Chiefs will have to contend with J.J. Watt, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and a Cincinnati Bengals team coming off a fourth-straight playoff appearance. That is a lot of talent (the Houston Texans are the only team not ranked in the top 10 of NFL.com’s post-draft power rankings) all in consecutive weeks. And if that wasn’t tough enough, only one of those four games will be at home.
Sep 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general aerial view of Arrowhead Stadium before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking of Arrowhead . . . the Sea of Red will have few opportunities to turn it into the ear-busting arena that it is known for until the end of the year. Technically, Kansas City’s schedule is balanced with four home games in the first half of the season, and the other four in the second half. Practically, that is a complete load of baloney.
Mostly that comes from something we all knew was going to happen: counting a trip to London as a home game. The Chiefs may get to wear more red because of that, but whenever you have to cross an ocean and play the game on a different continent, there is no reasonable way to call it a home game.
Because of the London game, and the fact that the second half starts off with back-to-back road games, Arrowhead will see only three Chiefs games before Thanksgiving.
And those consecutive road games coming off of the BYE at the start of the second half of the year? They just happen to be against two divisional rivals. That is like coming back from spring break to find out you have immediate exams in two of the most difficult classes your are taking.
To recap, in the first ten games of the season the Chiefs will play six road games, only three home games, and one on a neutral field. Of those games, six will be against playoff teams from last year (Broncos (twice), Packers, Bengals, Steelers, Lions). Repeating that 9-0 start from two seasons ago seems . . . unlikely.
Looking at that, it is easy to feel like the 2015 schedule is a curse for having put together two winning seasons for the first time in almost a decade. But is it really?
Next: So is it actually a blessing or curse?