Kansas City Chiefs 2014 Home Opponents from The Mothership
"We always look forward to the schedule coming out," coach Reid said. "This allows us to get started preparing for our opponents in the order we play them. Today is really about our fans. There is no question that Chiefs Kingdom will be fired up, come September."
Chiefs fans have much to be 'fired up' about, including the eight home games in 2014. Below is a snapshot preview of the teams who are slated to pay a visit to Arrowhead this season.
Five Games That Will Define Chiefs' Season from ESPN
1. Sept. 29 vs. New England: This is the first Monday night game at Arrowhead Stadium in three years, so Chiefs fans should be primed for this one. The Chiefs will need them in rare form, too. This is the only home appearance for the Chiefs among a five-game early season stretch, so it's easy to picture the Chiefs at below .500 at midseason if they don't win this one. This is a rare appearance for Tom Brady and the Patriots in Kansas City. They haven't been at Arrowhead since 2005.
Initial Thoughts On The Chiefs' Schedule from Chiefs Spin
Clearly the Denver Broncos game in Week 2 is huge and warrants strong consideration, but Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers before the bye week could prove critical.
On paper alone, the opening stretch is brutal facing the Broncos, 49ers and New England Patriots. Those three teams were a combined 37-11 in 2013 and the Chiefs may need to enter the bye on a high note.
There's no better way to achieve that than to secure a win against an NFC power that made the playoffs three straight seasons and the Super Bowl two seasons ago.
Berry, Fisher Make List Of Top Prospects from ESPN
For those with ESPN Insider access, draft analyst Todd McShay has a piece ranking his top 32 prospects from the past four drafts plus this year. It should be of interest to their fans because the Kansas City Chiefs had the fifth pick in the 2010 draft (and selected strong safety Eric Berry) and the top overall choice last year (when they picked tackle Eric Fisher).
Both Berry and Fisher appear in McShay's top 32. Berry is the 12th-ranked prospect from the past five drafts, this year's included, while Fisher is 23rd.
Extra Points: Mock Draft Version 4.0 from Athlon Sports
23. Kansas City Chiefs - Odell Beckham, WR, LSU - Alex Smith gets criticized a lot for being a game manager and failing to push the ball down the field, but one of the major reasons he didn't was the fact Kansas City had no threat outside the numbers to pop the top on opposing defenses. Beckham is the type of dynamic athlete who can stretch a defense and offers a little more size than a Brandin Cooks.
PREVIOUS PICK - Beckham
2014 NFL Mock Draft: Manziel Only QB In Round 1, Watkins Moves Up from CBS Sports
23. Kansas City Chiefs -- Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State: Here's a solid young man who handles himself like a pro already and he plays a position the Chiefs need to upgrade. Andy Reid will see the 'DeSean Jackson' model in Cooks.
A Fight To Keep College Athletes From The Pain Of Injury Costs from The New York Times
Doughty, a former defensive lineman at South Carolina, left the university in 2007, in his junior year, to pursue a professional career. He was not drafted but signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. At his physical, he was told he had a cervical spine injury; one more big hit could lead to serious problems. Without surgical repair, the injury would affect him the rest of his life. His contract was canceled.
Doughty contacted South Carolina seeking medical assistance. After coaches initially said they might be able to help, they stopped returning his calls, he said. Doughty has since sued the N.C.A.A., arguing it breached its duty to protect football players. A South Carolina spokesman wrote that Doughty was aware of his injury and that he was provided appropriate medical care while he was a student-athlete.
Forecasting One Pivotal Game On NFL Schedule For All 32 Teams from The Staunton News Leader
Kansas City Chiefs: On Oct. 5, QB Alex Smith takes his new team to San Francisco - well, Santa Clara anyway - where he'll have to balance a desire for payback vs. the 49ers while knowing he can't press against such a strong team. The Niners are the third of four playoff teams the Chiefs will see in their first six games, and Andy Reid will quickly determine if his team has regressed or not after losing so many key contributors to a tight salary cap.
Opinion: 9 Most-Anticipated Games Of 2014 from Patriots.com
5. at Kansas City : The Chiefs were a playoff team last year under first-year coach Andy Reid. But I'm most looking forward to this game because it'll be my first trip to Arrowhead, one of the most glorified venues in the NFL.
Hochman: Why The Broncos Will Win At Least 12 Games this Year from The Denver Post
And I don't see the division being as tough as it was last season. Kansas City, bless their hearts, had a fun run last season, but the Chiefs lost a bunch of fellows in free agency.
Look, I know this is all on paper, be it discussing the strength of the schedule or the strength of the Broncos, but it seems pretty simple to me - the Broncos were 13-3 last year with a defense that barely kept them in the games. This season, the defense could win them games (again, on paper).
Patriots Schedule: Week By Week Breakdown from The Boston Globe
The Chiefs look like a team primed to regress from last season's 11-5 record. They went just 2-5 after their 9-0 start last year before losing a wild-card thriller to the Colts. They haven't made much of a splash in the offseason, and lost a significant chunk of their offensive line - most significantly Branden Albert. The Patriots haven't met Kansas City often in recent years, and haven't visited Arrowhead Stadium since 2005. But they beat them 34-3 when the teams last met in 2011.
Seahawks Have More Obstacles In Schedule Than 49ers from CSN Bay Area
The other two playoff teams from the AFC West - Kansas City and San Diego - travel to Santa Clara. The 49ers host the Chiefs in Week 5, and the Chargers come calling in Week 16. Meanwhile, Seattle goes to San Diego in Week 2 -- 10 days after their season-opening Thursday night kickoff. The Seahawks are at Kansas City in Week 11 for a 10 a.m. kickoff. DISADVANTAGE: Seahawks.
Chiefs Acquire Bronze Sculpture For Arrowhead Stadium from Kansas City Business Journal
The Kansas City Chiefs acquired a 2,500-pound bronze-and-clay sculpture produced by world-renowned artist Jun Kaneko, adding it to the Arrowhead Art Collection.
Kaneko's work is featured in more than 40 museum collections around the world.