Chiefs schedule 2016: Five key games

1. Both contests vs. Denver Broncos

There was no way to decide which one of these games would be more important. Last year, the Chiefs were only able to split with Denver despite pounding the Broncos in both meetings. Had Kansas City taken care of business in Week 2 instead of committing five turnovers, the Chiefs would have won the AFC West. Who knows how much that changes the outcome of Super Bowl 50.

Denver is going to be a changed team after this offseason. There is almost certainty that Peyton Manning is gone, replaced by Brock Osweiler. The defense could also lose some key pieces in Danny Trevathan and Malik Jackson. Of course, the same can be said of the Chiefs, who are looking at Eric Berry, Sean Smith, Jaye Howard, Husain Abdullah, Mike DeVito, Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson hitting the market.

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If Kansas City is going to win the West and maybe go to the Super Bowl, it has to beat the Broncos. The Chiefs are undoubtedly good enough to do it, showing that they could handle Denver in 2015. This is going to be one of the better rivalries next season, and the outcomes of the games are likely to shape the AFC playoffs.