KC Chiefs: Ranking the 2015 Schedule

Nov 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs receiver Albert Wilson (12) is defended by Oakland Raiders cornerback Tarell Brown (23) at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chiefs 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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12. — @ Minnesota Vikings — Week 6

On paper this seems like an easy win. Minnesota is coming off a 7-9 season, and no one knows if Adrian Peterson will be in the backfield or not. However, Teddy Bridgewater showed signs of being a decent quarterback in between injuries, and a road game in the NFL is never a gimme. Even so, this game lacks star power and intrigue, unless Peterson is in the midst of a monster comeback season. The last time the Chiefs played at Minnesota, they won 13-10 on the strength of Damon Huard’s 206 passing yards, and Larry Johnson’s 42 rushing yards. We could only be so lucky to see a game as exciting as that one.

11. — @ Cincinnati Bengals — Week 4

Cincinnati has made the playoffs the past four years — all losses — and could easily be one of the six best AFC teams yet again. Even the best teams have that one game each season that gets away from them (see: New England at Kansas City last year), and this one could be it for the Chiefs. They will be coming off a short week at Green Bay on Monday night, and will have to travel to Cincy for this game. Everything is lining up for this to be a tough one for the Chiefs, especially if the Packer game is a hard-fought, emotional one.

10. — vs. Detroit Lions — Week 8

The Lions will bring a ton of star power to London with them in quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Calvin Johnson and ROY candidate, running back Ameer Abdullah. However, the Lions tend to disappoint nearly as much as every NFL game ever played in the UK (save for one). Take the Lions outside of their natural dome habitat and it could mean a defensive-dominated game by the Chiefs. Great to get the win? Yes. Cool to have football at 8:30 AM CST? Yes. Exciting game? Not so much.

9. — @ Oakland Raiders — Week 13

Again, a game against the Raiders should be ranked much higher, but Oakland has not been holding up its end of the bargain in this rivalry, losing an average of 12.3 games per season the last three years. Some think with the progression of quarterback Derek Carr and running back Latavius Murray (who torched the Chiefs last season), coupled with the addition of star wideout Amari Cooper, could get Oakland back to its winning ways. Time will only tell, and the Raiders did defeat the Chiefs at home last year for one of its three victories. That, the fact it’s one of the biggest rivalries in the NFL, and it’s at a point in the season the Chiefs can ill afford to stub their toe, are what is keeping this game from the bottom rung.

Next: No. 8-5