Breakdown: The Chiefs won’t have to wait to try to erase the stink of back-to-back blowout home defeats to end the season. The AFC West champion Chiefs will host Buffalo in Week 1 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs started the home season 7-0, but lost to Oakland in the regular-season finale and then were clubbed by Baltimore in the wild-card playoff round.
The Chiefs have a much tougher schedule in 2011 than they did in 2010. With games against Buffalo, Detroit and Minnesota in the first four games, the Chiefs have to take advantage and start quickly if they want to repeat as division champions.
Complaint department: The Chiefs have a rough stretch in Weeks 11 through 17. The Chiefs have road games at New England, Chicago and the New York Jets and home games against Pittsburgh, Green Bay and Oakland. Five of those teams made the playoffs last year and two made the Super Bowl. All six teams were at least 8-8.
The gift of winning: After being a surprise division winner last year, the Chiefs were awarded with three prime-time games. The Chiefs host San Diego in a Monday night game on Halloween, which should be festive. Three weeks later, the Chiefs play at New England on "Monday Night Football." The next week, the Chiefs play host to Pittsburgh in a Sunday night game.
Chiefs Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 11, Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 18, at Detroit, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 25, at San Diego, 4:05 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23, at Oakland, 4:05 PM
Week 8: Monday, Oct. 31, San Diego, 8:30 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, Denver, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Monday, Nov. 21, at New England, 8:30 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27, Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, at Chicago, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, at NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18, Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, Oakland, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at Denver, 4:15 PM