Kansas City Chiefs 2012 Schedule: Power Ranking Games from Easiest to Hardest

The NFL released its schedule for the 2012 season on Tuesday, giving fans and pundits alike the opportunity to dissect all 256 games on the slate.

However, with the draft looming, a second wave of free agency still to come and the likelihood for injuries, it is far too early to tell how each roster will shake out leading up to the start of the season.

With a very forgettable 2011 season behind them, the Kansas City Chiefs have had a very effective offseason, bringing in right tackle Eric Winston, tight end Kevin Boss, running back Peyton Hillis and essentially swapping cornerback Brandon Carr for Stanford Routt.

Couple that with Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry, Tony Moeaki and Matt Cassel all returning from injury, and the Chiefs look primed to build off of the momentum from their 2010 season in which they won the AFC West.

The Chiefs will play a fourth-place schedule against the NFC South and AFC North divisions, and obviously their interdivisional games.

Here is the Chiefs’ 2012 schedule, with games listed in order from easiest to most difficult.

Week 16: Indianapolis Colts (Home)

With Peyton Manning now in Denver, the Indianapolis Colts are looking forward to the start of the Andrew Luck era in Indy.

Similar to how Manning began his career with the Colts, the organization has decided to start from scratch, having not retained many of their core group of players.

Luck may be the long-term answer at quarterback for the Colts, but it is almost certain that he will struggle to duplicate even the 3-13 record that Manning put up as a rookie. And one of those three wins should not be in Arrowhead against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Week 14: Cleveland Browns (Road)

Although he’s still getting his feet wet in the NFL, Colt McCoy did little last season to prove that he can win games on his own. The Cleveland Browns finished with a 4-12 record and have done little this offseason to improve upon that.

However, the Browns do own three of the first 37 picks in the upcoming draft. But that injection of youth and talent will be far from enough to propel them into respectability in 2012.

Week 8: Oakland Raiders (Home)

The fact that the Chiefs missed the playoffs last season can be directly attributed to two blocked field goals at the hands of Richard Seymour—at Arrowhead Stadium nonetheless.

The Chiefs will look to exact some revenge on the Raiders and the bye week before this game should help them prepare for that.

Although the Raiders have taken the last five games played between these two teams in Kansas City, the Chiefs are putting themselves in position to reverse that trend.

Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals (Home)

In 2011, the tandem of quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green went against the grain in proving that success can come early for rookies in the NFL.

After letting running back Cedric Benson leave via free agency, the Bengals signed BenJarvus Green-Ellis away from the New England Patriots to fill the void.

The Bengals are about as middle of the road as you can be in comparison to the rest of the league. So traveling to Arrowhead will be no easy task, even with Dalton and Green having full years under their belts. 

Week 2: Buffalo Bills (Road)

Last season, the Buffalo Bills traveled to Arrowhead Stadium in their first game of the season and absolutely destroyed the Chiefs by the score of 41-7. The Chiefs were victims of injuries and a lack of preparation, and were punched in the gut from the start.

The Bills made a major splash this offseason by signing defensive end Mario Williams, and although this year's game will be in Buffalo, the Chiefs will stop at nothing to erase last year's result.

Week 6: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Road)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in a similar boat as the Chiefs in 2011; with both coming off seasons in which they finished 10-6, expectations were high.

However, instead of key injuries and a lack of preparation, former Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris lost the respect of his team and their season quickly turned sour.

Quarterback Josh Freeman regressed from his spectacular 2010 season, and although the Bucs brought in wide receiver Vincent Jackson, it will be difficult to see Tampa Bay being much better than its 2011 version.

Week 15: Oakland Raiders (Road)

It is always a war when the Kansas City Chiefs visit the "Black Hole" to take on the Oakland Raiders. But by Week 15, the Raiders won't be playing for anything other than better draft positioning.

Carson Palmer isn't the quarterback that he used to be, and losing running back Michael Bush in free agency to the Chicago Bears will prove to be a huge loss. 

Week 13: Carolina Panthers (Home)

How will Cam Newton react to his first trip to Arrowhead Stadium? Although veterans are familiar with the atmosphere, those who make their first trip come out not knowing what hit them.

However, Newton showed up to the NFL last season without skipping a beat from his final season at Auburn.

The Chiefs should be able to handle their business at home, but this might be the most entertaining game on their slate.

Week 4: San Diego Chargers (Home)

The San Diego Chargers are two years removed from their last AFC West division title, but they might be the most Jekyll and Hyde team in the entire NFL.

Losing running back Darren Sproles in free agency to the New Orleans Saints last season proved to be a huge loss. And now that former No. 1 wide receiver Vincent Jackson has bolted to Tampa Bay, it will be interesting to see just how good Philip Rivers is.

Week 12: Denver Broncos (Home)

Led by Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos were able to win the AFC West last season. But after winning the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, the Broncos sent Tebow packing to the New York Jets.

It is still unknown how the year off will affect Manning, but the Broncos should benefit from more consistent play from the quarterback position.

Week 1: Atlanta Falcons (Home)

After what happened at Arrowhead to open the season last year at the hands of the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs will arrive more prepared in 2012.

However, the Atlanta Falcons are a much better team than the Bills and feature some mismatches that will present problems for the Chiefs.

Although Brandon Flowers has proven that he is indeed a top cornerback in the NFL, the quarterback/wide receiver group of Matt Ryan, Roddy White and Julio Jones is a tough cover for anyone.

Week 9: San Diego Chargers (Road)

It was surprising that the Chiefs played the Chargers to a three-point loss in San Diego last season after losing their first two games by a combined score of 89-10 to the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.

The loss to the Chargers in week 3 actually ignited a four-game winning streak by the Chiefs that brought them back to respectability.

The first of two prime time games for the Chiefs will be a good test to see if they can indeed return to 2010 form.

Week 3: New Orleans Saints (Road)

Assuming that the Saints do what is right by the franchise and sign Drew Brees to a long-term contract, even Bountygate can't take away from the talent on this team.

However, being able to play New Orleans this early in the season will give the Chiefs a chance to win this game. But even playing it to a close score will provide them with the confidence to carry on throughout the season.

Week 17: Denver Broncos (Road)

After what will be very telling seasons for both franchises, the Chiefs meet the Broncos at Mile High for what could possibly decide the division on the last week of the regular season.

If Manning is still standing upright and the Chiefs can continue making strides under the management of Scott Pioli, this game could serve as the apex to this heated rivalry. 

Week 5: Baltimore Ravens (Home)

The last time the Ravens came to Arrowhead Stadium, it was the opening round of the playoffs following the 2010 season. Needless to say, they left Kansas City having defeated the Chiefs 30-7.

Kansas City and its fans would like to forget about that game, but Ray Lewis and Co. will certainly be licking their chops at a repeat performance.

This game will cap off a difficult start of the schedule for the Chiefs, but if they can emerge healthy and having played a respectable brand of football, it could be propel them to being a contender deep into the season.

Week 10: Pittsburgh Steelers (Road)

This game is the obvious choice for the most difficult one on the Chiefs' schedule, especially when you consider that it will be played on a Monday night in Pittsburgh.

The Chiefs will have played their previous game a lengthy 10 days earlier on a Thursday night against division rival San Diego, and it is hard to tell how that layoff will affect their play.

However, with former head coach Todd Haley now running the Steelers' offense, you can be certain that Romeo Crennel will have the Chiefs pumped up for this one.

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