Kansas City Chiefs: Power Ranking Their 2011 Preseason Opponents

Earlier this afternoon, the NFL announced the 2011 preseason schedules for all teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs.

This gives us a glimmer of hope that there will be an upcoming season this year.

Among the Chiefs' opponents are the defending Super Bowl champions, a team they lost in the playoffs to last season and an up-and-coming team from the AFC South.

KC will be facing two different foes than they did last preseason and their first game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be a nationally televised game.

All of this has the makings of an exciting and intriguing preseason that just can't get here soon enough.

4. St. Louis Rams

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams hands the ball off to running back Steven Jackson #39 during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on January 2, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Gre

The Chiefs will be renewing an old preseason interstate rivalry this year when they face the St. Louis Rams in the fourth week of the upcoming preseason.

KC beat the Rams 27-13 last season in a game where their QB Matt Cassel made a remarkable comeback after undergoing an appendectomy just 11 days earlier.

With Sam Bradford at QB and RB Steven Jackson in the fold, the Rams offense is always a threat to do some damage against opposing defenses.

With both teams being young and on the rise, this should make the battle for the '11 Governor's Cup an exciting matchup.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Josh Freeman #5 celebrates after throwing a touchdown with Dezmon Briscoe #89 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on January 2, 2011 in New Orlea

The Bucs are lead by 34-year-old head coach Raheem Morris and his confidence in his player spreads throughout the team.

Kansas City area native Josh Freeman is their starting QB, and after throwing for 25 touchdowns over 3,400 yards in '10, he is seen as a rising star in this league.

KC had trouble with the Bucs last preseason, falling by a score of 20-15 in a hard fought road loss.

This year, the Chiefs will have the advantage of playing at a rejuvenated Arrowhead Stadium with a national audience in week one of the preseason.

2. Baltimore Ravens

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Terrence Cody #62, Haloti Ngata #92, Jameel McClain #53, Cory Redding #93 and Ray Lewis #52 and the Baltimore Ravens defense prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead St

With arguable the best defense in the AFC, the Ravens will provide a big challenge for KC in week two of the '11 preseason.

The Chiefs are all too familiar with Baltimore, after receiving a 30-7 drubbing at the hands of the Ravens in the first round of the '10 playoffs.

The Ravens offense is led by strong-armed fourth-year QB Joe Flacco, and their defense is anchored by future Hall of Famer LB Ray Lewis and seven-time Pro Bowl S Ed Reed.

If this collection of NFL talent doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.

1. Green Bay Packers

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers talks to teammates prior to their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Get

Led by Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are easily the toughest opponent that the Chiefs will face this preseason.

Behind Rodgers, Green Bay boasts one of the best passing offenses in the league and RB Ryan Grant should be back to help bolster their running game.

Their defense is very solid as well, with a solid secondary that includes veterans Charles Woodson and Nick Collins among others.

The Pack should be a good final test for the Chiefs as they head into their regular season opener just days later.