Kansas City Chiefs: Outcomes For All 16 Regular Season Games

With the start of the 2011 NFL regular season just 22 days away, it's time to start the predictions for how each team will fare this year.

The Kansas City Chiefs will arguably have one of the toughest schedule in the entire NFL.

With road games against playoff teams such as Indianapolis, Chicago, the New York Jets and New England, coupled with home games against both teams in last year's Super Bowl with Green Bay and Pittsburgh, KC will have to earn many of their wins this season.

Here are the game-by-game predicted outcomes of all 16 regular season games for the Chiefs in 2011.

Week 1 vs. Buffalo Bills

The Chiefs kick off their regular season schedule with a home game against the Bills on September 11th.

The Bills should once again feature Harvard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick and some young weapons on offense.

When the two teams met last year, KC won 13-10 on a Ryan Succop game-winning field goal in overtime.

I don't see it being as close this season.

Prediction: Chiefs- 24 Bills- 10

Week 2 at Detroit Lions

In KC's second straight road contest to begin the '11 season, they will square off against a young and hungry Detroit Lions team.

The Lions defensive line should be very strong this season, with the addition of former Auburn star Nick Fairley to a unit that already includes the likes of NFC Defensive ROY Ndamukong Suh.

Third-year QB Matthew Stafford could also be a tough match for KC's secondary if he happens to get on a roll in his season in the league.

Still, I see the Chiefs having too much talent on the field for the Lions to overcome in this one.

Prediction: Chiefs- 21  Lions-14

Week 3 at San Diego Chargers

In one of the toughest division games that Kansas City will have in the '11 regular season, they will face the Chargers in Week 3.

San Diego is coming off of a year where they had the No. 1 rated offense and defense, yet failed to make the playoffs.

Pro Bowl QB Phillip Rivers has always been tough on the Chiefs, especially when KC has faced him on the road.

Unfortunately for the red and gold, I don't see this game being any different.

Prediction: Chargers- 28 Chiefs- 13

Week 4 vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Chiefs matchup with the Vikings in Week 4 might turn out to be on of their easier home games this season.

With veteran journeyman QB Donovan McNabb manning the offense for the Vikes, and veteran receiver Sidney Rice gone to the Seahawks, the Chiefs might be able to stack the box against All-Pro RB Adrian Peterson in this one.

Minnesota could give KC fits with their defensive line, which includes former Chief Jared Allen, but Kansas City's offense is just too fast and talented for the Vikings' defense.

Prediction: Chiefs- 27 Vikings- 10

Week 5 at Indianapolis Colts

This Week 5 matchup puts the Chiefs against the reigning AFC South champion Colts.

If there was one player that KC would not like to see anymore, it has to be longtime Colts QB Peyton Manning.

He has owned Kansas City in his career, losing just one game against them along the way.

Although these aren't the same Colts from a few years ago, I still see them pulling out another win over KC in close fashion.

Prediction: Colts- 14 Chiefs- 13

Week 7 at Oakland Raiders

The Raiders showed KC last year that they are a team to beat going forward.

Oakland beat the Chiefs in both of the teams' meetings in '10, and appear to be on the rise with all of their young, talented play-makers on both offense and defense.

Raiders RB Darren McFadden and WR/KR/PR Jacoby Ford could both give the Chiefs fits once again in 2011.

This will be another physically tough game for Kansas City, but I see them coming out of the bay area with a win in this important early season contest.

Prediction: Chiefs- 21 Raiders- 17

Week 8 vs. San Diego Chargers

Last year, these two teams hooked up at Arrowhead Stadium for a game to remember for Chiefs fans.

KC wound up winning that game 21-14, thanks to a huge punt return TD by then-rookie Dexter McCluster (pictured above).

This season, both teams will play on Monday again, except this time on Halloween.

With the Arrowhead crowd and the national spotlight, I see no reason why the Chiefs won't repeat what they did last year against Norv Turner and his boys.

Prediction: Chiefs- 24 Chargers-17

Week 9 vs. Miami Dolphins

After a 7-9 finish a season ago, the Miami Dolphins will be looking to right the ship in 2011.

Miami has a host of young talent on offense, led by Pro Bowl tackle Jake Long and rookie running back Daniel Thomas.

The question for the Dolphins will be if they can stop the Chiefs' potent offense on the road.

I like the Dolphins, but I just don't think that they can slow down Jamaal Charles and the league's No. 1 rushing attack from last season.

Prediction: Chiefs- 31 Dolphins-14

Week 10 vs. Denver Broncos

The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos have been bitter rivals ever since John Elway and Derrick Thomas roamed the gridiron.

In the two squads' first matchup of 2011, Denver will travel to KC to take on the Chiefs in Week 10 of the regular season.

This is virtually the same Denver team who went 2-14 last year, and only scored six points at Arrowhead against the Chiefs that same season.

Denver is still in rebuilding mode and the Chiefs will send them back to Colorado with yet another loss in their hip pocket.

Prediction: Chiefs- 28 Broncos- 10

Week 11 at New England Patriots

This game will be the toughest matchup that the Chiefs will have on their schedule this season.

The Pats are one of the best teams in the league at defending their home turf, and with future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady still leading their offense, it's easy to see why.

They are a lock to make the playoffs every season these days, and are nearly unbeatable in New England.

Even though the Chiefs played them close in their last contest at Gillette Stadium back in 2008, I see this game being far from close.

Prediction: Patriots- 34 Chiefs- 13

Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

If there was one game that I could circle as a big upset on the Chiefs upcoming regular season schedule it would be this game against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh has shown a tendency to struggle on the road at times in the past, and the Arrowhead crowd certainly will not help their cause in this matchup in Week 12.

Two years ago, the Chiefs upset the Steelers in one of the biggest wins for the organization in recent memory.

I see the Steelers playing down to the level of competition in this game and losing in KC once again.

Prediction: Chiefs-17 Steelers-14

Week 13 at Chicago Bears

Chicago is riding high after an NFC North division title and an appearance in the NFC championship game.

Gunslinger Jay Cutler will remain the team's starting QB in 2011, and is primed to have another big season.

KC has struggled over the years against NFC North competition, but I expect them to be ready for the Bears in this one.

Prediction: Chiefs-20 Bears-13

Week 14 at New York Jets

You can bet that Rex Ryan's Jets will be ready for Kansas City when they come calling in Week 14.

His team has one of the best secondaries in the league and is quickly becoming a team that no one wants to face late in the season.

They proved that again last season when they defeated the Colts on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

The Chiefs do not match up well against them, and that is why they will struggle in this game.

Prediction: Jets-17 Chiefs-7

Week 15 vs Green Bay Packers

There is no doubt that the Chiefs will have their hands full with the defending Super Bowl champs in this one.

The Packers boast one of the best QBs in the league in Aaron Rodgers, and also have a solid secondary as well.

Defensively, the Chiefs will face their biggest challenge with Green Bay.

I just don't see them keeping up with the Pack's vaunted passing attack.

Prediction: Packers-31 Chiefs-21

Week 16 vs. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders seemed to have KC's number last season when they beat them 31-10 at Arrowhead in Week 17, but I see it going differently this time.

Oakland won that game by abusing the Chiefs interior offensive line, an area that KC has already improved this season by promoting guard Jon Asamoah to be the starting right guard and selecting former All-American G/C Rodney Hudson in the second round of April's draft.

Without all-everything corner Nnamdi Asomugha manning the Raiders' defensive backfield, I see them having a hard time containing the talented KC receiving corps of Dwayne Bowe, Jonathan Baldwin and Steve Breaston.

Prediction: Chiefs- 28 Raiders- 14

Week 17 at Denver Broncos

In the '11 regular season finale, the Chiefs will face off against the Denver Broncos for the second and final time this season.

This could turn out to be a very tough game for KC, considering the fact that they historically don't play very well at Denver in general.

Last year, they gave up 49 points to the Broncos, as they literally were ran out of Denver that night.

With all of the offensive weapons that Kansas City has added this offseason, I don't see this happening for a second straight time this year.

Prediction: Chiefs-28 Broncos-24