5 reasons to potentially be nervous about the Chiefs in 2023

4. Schedule disadvantages in the second half of the season

A substantial concern hovering over the Chiefs this season is one that might have escaped the attention of many fans. It pertains to their significant rest disparity, a disadvantage that stands at the forefront. In the metric of "net rest," which signifies the overall days of additional rest in comparison to opponents throughout the season, the Chiefs find themselves ranked 30th out of 32 teams at -13 days, according to Warren Sharp.

Adding to this challenge is the extremely rare circumstance of facing six consecutive games (Weeks 12 through 17) at a rest disadvantage versus their opponents. Per Warren Sharp, this occurrence is unprecedented over the past 35 years, if it has occurred at all. Furthermore, in Week 11, both the Chiefs and the Eagles will be coming off of their bye week, rendering one of Andy Reid's most effective coaching strategies relatively neutral.

The Chiefs are slated to encounter the Bills post their bye week, and they'll also face the Raiders (twice) and Bengals on short weeks. Additionally, matchups against the Patriots and Packers follow those teams' Thursday Night Football appearances.

While it might not lead to catastrophic consequences for the Chiefs, I'm inclined to believe it could potentially impact their performance in a game or two during the latter part of the season. This predicament further curtails Andy Reid's capacity to strategize effectively, given the team's reduced preparation time for ensuing matches in addition to less time for healing for ailing players.