During July, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be analyzing the schedules of every team in the NFL and ranking each game in order of difficulty (with one being the most difficult). This series will be split up into the eight most difficult games (ranked 1-8) and the eight easiest games (ranked 9-16) for each team. In this article, the Kansas City Chiefs easiest games are the focus.
Kansas City Chiefs Easiest Games in 2016
9. Week 9 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Blake Bortles is one of the best young quarterbacks in football, and he has a lot of weapons to work with this year. Wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns are both coming off 1,000-yard seasons, tight end Julius Thomas is healthy and newly-acquired running back Chris Ivory is coming off a career year with the New York Jets.
The Jaguars have put a lot of pressure on Bortles in the past, who has averaged 245 passing yards per game over the course of his two-year NFL career. This could very well change with Ivory, T.J. Yeldon and Denard Robinson in the backfield, all three of which have starting experience. The Jaguars offense should be one of the most balanced units in the league and produce a lot of points. That could be tough for a Chiefs team that plans to win games ‘the right way’ through defensive turnovers and long methodical drives on offense.
10. Week 3 vs. New York Jets
Ryan Fitzpatrick is officially on board after signing a one-year, $12 million deal with the Jets. Gang Green features a potent wide receiver duo in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, and running back Matt Forte should be reliable. The Jets narrowly missed the playoffs last season, but they have a shot in 2016 if the defense remains dominant and age doesn’t take a toll on their offensive stars. Beating the Chiefs at Arrowhead would certainly make a strong statement early in the season.
11. Week 7 vs. New Orleans Saints
It’s hard not to question how much Drew Brees has left in the tank, who turns 37 in January. With that said, he was phenomenal last season. Brees flirted with 5,000 passing yards, threw 32 touchdowns and reduced his interceptions by six compared to the previous season. There’s no question this game will be mostly fought through the air. All eyes will be on the Chiefs secondary.
12. Week 11 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston showed promise as a rookie and should be much-improved from last year. It’s imperative that the Chiefs defense keep Doug Martin in check, who is highly underrated and might be the most talented back the Chiefs face all season if Le’Veon Bell’s suspension holds up. The Buccaneers also have a strong linebacking corps, which might make it difficult for the Chiefs to establish the run.
13. Week 13 at Atlanta Falcons
It’ll be interesting to watch the match-up between Marcus Peters and Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones. Jones led the NFL in receiving yards last season. He should have another productive year. The Falcons also have a solid young running back duo in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. The defense is vastly improved from where it was just two seasons ago. The Chiefs should be able to run away with this one if they can just lock up Jones and muster a few points.
14. Week 17 at San Diego Chargers
The Chargers careened out of control in 2015, managing just four wins after back-to-back 9-7 regular season campaigns. Still likely to be plagued by offensive line struggles and an almost nonexistent running game, this contest should come down to the matchup between Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and the Chiefs secondary. When the Chiefs played at San Diego last year, Rivers was held to just 178 passing yards, which was not nearly enough to make up for another terrible outing by Melvin Gordon. Look for the Chiefs to get the best of Rivers again despite their youth at cornerback.
15. Week 15 vs. Tennessee Titans
The Titans addition of bruising backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry should certainly help them against the Chiefs potent front seven. However, it will be difficult for a team that finished 3-13 last season to come into Arrowhead and beat a playoff-caliber squad late in the season.
16. Week 1 vs. San Diego Chargers
Whether good or bad, the Chiefs first game will likely be their easiest. Add home field advantage to the fact that the Chiefs are going up against a team that still appears shaky at offensive and defensive line, and it should be a tough way for the Chargers to open up their 2016 campaign.
Be sure to check out the eight most most difficult games as well.
