The NFL schedule release is a time I love. It makes the season real in my mind. The goal for a Mahomes-led, Reid-coached team is the Super Bowl. Now we know the path, and we can all spend time walking it. The time for record and win/loss predictions is still in my future. If for no other reason, we are still a long way from starting the season. There has to be a final roster for me to truly tackle that ask. We are still missing a key element: the significant cuts from 90 to 53. The CHIEFS have assembled such talent that intricate cuts are inevitable. I feel confident saying they will not come from the pass rush. Other teams will cut effective pieces, and Veach will be there waiting. For now, I will talk schedule from an observational view.
Immediate Take: Visibility
The CHIEFS have been moving down the path to villainy since lifting Lombardi in LIV. Many NFL fans are growing weary of the CHIEFS. The NFL does a great job of feeling the pulse of fans and, more importantly, acting on the feedback. This is how we have new playoff OT rules now, and not four years ago. Fans didn’t care then, but they do now. The NFL listened and acted. So let’s get back to the growing CHIEFS fatigue among NFL fans.
The 2022 schedule shows that the NFL effectively turned that feedback into toilet paper. Kansas City will be on TV a lot, y’all, so best get comfortable with it. The CHIEFS have ELEVEN games in prime time and prime time light. Six of the games are in the 3:25 CT spot, which is what I refer to as prime time light. In addition, the CHIEFS will be playing nationally televised games due to the limited slate in the late spot. The CHIEFS are marquee, and I love it. All of these games on TV make it harder to fill a watch party, but it’s a high-class problem.pg
My Problem
The primary issue I see is the BYE week landing on 8. There is no shortage of content in articles and takes about the murderers row front-loading the CHIEFS schedule. To be fair, it is harsh. I cannot bring myself to gripe too much because the opponents are the opponents. No one is sitting in some NFL room trying to figure out who plays who. The AFC South and NFC West made the 2022 list probably a decade ago. The fact that half those teams made the playoffs last year is dumb luck. Adding the Bengals and Bills is the price of being good. The CHIEFS earned those opponents.
The who on the schedule is not itself harsh but is a result of brutal reality. A week eight bye is just plain harsh. This means a run of 10 straight games weeks after the bye. The NFL gave a small amount of relief, putting the short week early as possible, but this is rough. The team on the marquee deserves better.
The Segments that Defines
I always look at large undertakings and break them into manageable segments. My approach to wrapping my head around this schedule followed that thought. For this point in time, months work great. So here is where I am at the moment.
September
Overall take: Amazon launches in style and at the best time for a short week. Week 2 hosting the Chargers is the game of this section. At four days, it is the shortest prep time between games. Injury concerns are always the focus of the short week. Being week 2 is the best prevention this side of luck.
October
Overall take: It’s all box office. Brady vs. Mahomes part 3 is on. The CHIEFS return to Tampa in week 4 for Sunday night football. Monday Night Football comes back to Kansas City in week five and brings the Raiders with it. Week 6 features the Bills vs. CHIEFS. I’ve totally lost count. We play them every year and now most of the playoffs. Week 7 is a rematch of Super Bowl LIV. This month features a rematch of 2 of the last 3 Super Bowls, a replay of arguably the best game of last season, and one of the greatest rivalries in the league. Every single one of these games has a legitimate shot of being the game-of-the-week.
November
Overall take: Southern charm and beach vibes. The CHIEFS come out of the bye with a rematch revenge game. The Titans dealt the CHIEFS their worst loss of the season, and now Andy Reid has extra prep time. This is bad news for the Titans. Week 10 stays home for another AFC South tie against the Jags. Finally, the month ends with a home and away against LA. The season will be in full focus by the end of this month.
December
Overall take: Some revenge on tap before a slugfest. Cincinnati in week 13 is the first feature. The CHIEFS have two games of frustration from last season to dump on the Bengals. Week 14 is the first crack at the new look: the Russ-led Broncos. Both teams will have cards on the table, so I expect a traditional AFC West battle. A trip to Houston ends a three-game road trip. Finally, the CHIEFS end the month on Christmas Eve by hosting the Seahawks. This will be a great chance to thank the Seahawks for sending Russ to the AFC West.
January
Overall take: The west resolved. The NFL backloads the division games to ensure meaningful late-season games. I fully expect the Raiders to Faider, but Denver to cause problems. There is a legitimate chance the week 17 game has major implications. I love the NFL approach to week 18. We may be in store for multiple prime-time games. If this one means anything, the CHIEFS might end up with a 6th one.
Right Now? The countdown to the season continues.
Josh Kingsley – ArrowheadOne