:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/32030357/133891133.0.jpg)
The Kansas City Chiefs 2014 NFL schedule, which will come out at 7 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) this evening (you can find it here when it does), is currently rated the seventh hardest in the NFL, according to their opponents 2013 winning percentages. The Chiefs 2014 opponents had a .559 winning percentage last season, which puts the Chiefs No. 7, directly behind the Seattle Seahawks and directly above the Arizona Cardinals. It also puts the Chiefs behind the Oakland Raiders, who have the hardest schedule in the NFL (because they can't play themselves!), Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers.
The Chiefs play all four teams from the AFC and NFC Championship games last season.
Get your full strength of schedule here.
The top of the list of teams with the hardest schedules in the NFL are AFC West and NFC West teams. The AFC West's Chiefs, Broncos and Chargers all made the playoffs last season while the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks both made the playoffs. The playoff-less Arizona Cardinals still won 10 games.
The Chiefs home schedule is actually the hardest in the NFL, according to opponents 2013 winning percentage. Probably something to do with three of the NFL's final four from 2013 visiting Arrowhead.
Here's the other thing about strength of schedule: it means very little right now. Sure, the Chiefs schedule does look harder than last year but every year we also see about a 50 percent turnover rate among the playoff teams. Anyone have the Cardinals winning 10 games last year? Or the Redskins winning three games? That said, some teams on the Chiefs schedule are very, very strong candidates to be very, very good, such as the 49ers, Seahawks, Broncos and Patriots.
Here are the Chiefs 2014 opponents:
HOME: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
AWAY: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers