Kansas City Chiefs 2012 Schedule: 5 Most Important Games

On Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs released their highly anticipated 2012 regular season schedule.

After reviewing this coming season's slate of games, there will be many crucial matchups that the Chiefs and their fans should be circling on their calendars right now, including two nationally televised games in the middle of the season.

Here are the five most important games on KC's 2012 schedule.

Week 1: Vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Chiefs will begin their 2012 regular season with a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons are fresh off of a season where they went 10-6 and clinched a playoff berth as well.

Kansas City's fate in this game will be determined by how well they can slow down Atlanta's high-powered offense that is led by Pro-Bowl QB Matt Ryan and talented second-year wideout Julio Jones.

It will be important that KC comes out and plays well in this game, considering that it could set the tone for the earlier portion of their schedule this season.

Week 5: Vs. Baltimore Ravens

In arguably the toughest home game that they will have this season, the Chiefs will take on Baltimore in Week 5.

The Ravens thumped Kansas City the last time that the two squads met and they possess a wealth of experience on both sides of the ball.

The keys to beating Baltimore for the Chiefs will be to get pressure on QB Joe Flacco and be aggressive against their defense.

If KC can somehow pull out this victory, it would be a huge statement win for them in 2012.

Week 9: @ San Diego Chargers

In their first of two nationally televised games this season, the Chiefs will travel to southern California to take on the Chargers in early November.

Last season, KC hosted the Chargers on national TV, as they stunned their divisional rivals with an overtime victory on ESPN's Monday Night Football.

This year, it's San Diego's turn to host a prime-time game.

This game is important to the Chiefs on so many levels, considering that they have an even tougher test against the Pittsburgh Steelers the following week.

They can't afford to lay an egg against Norv Turner's team in this one.

Week 10: @ Pittsburgh Steelers

KC will take on Pittsburgh in their lone MNF game during Week 10 of the season.

They will be looking for payback against the Steelers, after the black and yellow squeaked out a win against Kansas City near the end of last season.

That being said, Heinz Field is one of the toughest places to play on the road in this league, and the Chiefs will obviously have their work cut out for them in this game.

Big Ben and Co. will be looking to steamroll KC, while the Chiefs will just be happy to come out of the Steel City with a win in some fashion.

Week 17: @ Denver Broncos

Not only is it important to have a strong start to every season, but it's also vital for a team to finish on a high note as well.

For the second straight year, the Chiefs will have the opportunity to do that in Denver against the Broncos in their last game of the campaign.

That means that they will get to face Peyton Manning for the second time this season and they will get another chance to show the four-time MVP quarterback why he made the wrong decision by signing with the Broncos over KC this past offseason.

Depending on how the AFC West title race shapes up in the first 16 weeks of the regular season, this could end up being a huge game for both teams' playoff hopes in 2012.

Even if the Chiefs are not be in the running for a division crown at this point in the season, a win over the Broncos could go a long way in the momentum for next season, much like what happened for Kansas City back in 2009.