You’ve probably heard by now that the Kansas City Chiefs have one of the toughest schedules of the 2022 NFL season. Nine of their 14 opponents in 2021 were playoff teams. Their first eight opponents all had winning records last season, which is a historical mark when it comes to tough schedules.
If you’re looking for a silver lining in terms of the schedule, we’re happy to report that there actually is one. The Chiefs might have the toughest schedule in the league next season, but their opponents won’t get much help in terms of extra rest.
The Chiefs don’t face a single team coming off of the bye week in 2022. They also only face a single with a mini-bye week, which comes following a Thursday night game.
Check it out:
| Week | Chiefs’ opponent | Who that opponent plays the week prior |
| 1 | @ Arizona Cardinals | N/A |
| 2 | vs Los Angeles Chargers (TNF) | vs. Las Vegas Raiders |
| 3 | @ Indianapolis Colts | @ Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 4 | @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SNF) | vs. Green Bay Packers |
| 5 | vs. Las Vegas Raiders (MNF) | vs. Denver Broncos |
| 6 | vs. Buffalo Bills | vs. Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 7 | @ San Francisco 49ers | @ Atlanta Falcons |
| 8 | BYE | BYE |
| 9 | vs. Tennessee Titans (SNF) | @ Houston Texans |
| 10 | vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Week 11 BYE) |
| 11 | @ Los Angeles Chargers | @ San Francisco 49ers (SNF) |
| 12 | vs. Los Angeles Rams | @ New Orleans Saints |
| 13 | @ Cincinnati Bengals | @ Tennessee Titans |
| 14 | @ Denver Broncos (SNF) | @ Baltimore Ravens |
| 15 | @ Houston Texans | @ Dallas Cowboys |
| 16 | vs. Seattle Seahawks | vs. San Francisco 49ers (TNF) |
| 17 | vs. Denver Broncos | @ Los Angeles Rams |
| 18 | @ Las Vegas Raiders | vs. San Francisco 49ers |
Some other interesting quirks of the schedule include:
- Nine teams will play a road game prior to playing the Chiefs.
- Seven teams will play a home game prior to playing the Chiefs.
- Three teams will face the 49ers before playing the Chiefs.
- Only one team (Seahawks, Week 16) will get extra rest before playing the Chiefs.
- Only one team (Chargers, Week 11) will have played a prime-time game the week before facing the Chiefs.
- Only one team (Jaguars, Week 10) will have a bye week following their game with the Chiefs.
Kansas City will certainly take all the help it can get with the grinder of a schedule they’re up against in 2022. No opponents getting an extra week of rest almost feels like a reward given how tough the schedule already is.
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