It didn't take long for Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid to put the team's 2014 regular season schedule in perspective.
"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.
View the 2014 Schedule in photos.
Tamba Hali and the Chiefs kick off their preseason schedule at home, facing the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, August 7 at 7:00 PM CT.
Dontari Poe and the Chiefs travel to Carolina for a matchup with the Panthers in Game 2 of the preseason on Sunday, August 17 at 7:00 PM CT.
In Game 3 of the preseason, Tamba Hali and the Chiefs play the Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 23rd at 7:00 PM CT.
Justin Houston and the Chiefs close out their preseason schedule at Lambeau Field on Thursday, Aug. 28th at 6:00 PM CT.
Dwayne Bowe and the Chiefs open the regular season at home in Week 1, welcoming the Tennessee Titans to Arrowhead on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 12:00 PM CT.
Derrick Johnson and the Chiefs visit the Peyton Manning-led Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Week 2 on Sept. 14 at 3:25 PM CT.
Derrick Johnson and the Chiefs take their talents to South Beach in Week 3, when they'll face the Miami Dolphins and former teammate LT Branden Albert on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3:25 PM CT.
The Chiefs try to corral Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, during their Week 4 matchup at Arrowhead Stadium on ESPN's Monday Night Football, Sept. 29 at 7:30 PM CT.
Alex Smith faces his former team, when the Chiefs visit new Levi's Stadium for a Week 5 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3:25 PM CT.
Following their Bye Week, Knile Davis and the Chiefs visit Qualcomm Stadium to face the San Diego Chargers in Week 7 on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 3:05 PM CT.
The Chiefs and Rams play for the Missouri Governor's Cup, when St. Louis visits Kansas City in Week 8 on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 12:00 PM CT.
The Chiefs and Jets meet at Arrowhead Stadium for a Week 9 matchup on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 12:00 PM CT.
For the second-straight year, Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs head east to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 10 on Nov. 9 at 12:00 PM CT.
The teams with the loudest NFL fan bases square off in Week 11, when Eric Berry and the Chiefs host the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 12:00 PM CT.
Jamaal Charles leads the Chiefs return to the "Black Hole" in Week 12, when Kansas City travels to Oakland for a Thursday Night matchup on NFL Network, Nov. 20 at 7:25 PM CT.
Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs look to top the Denver Broncos at home in Week 13 on NBC's Sunday Night Football on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 PM CT.
The Chiefs conclude their NFC West matchups with a road test against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14 on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3:05 PM CT.
Tamba Hali and the Chiefs add another chapter to Raider Week history, when Oakland visits Arrowhead in Week 15 on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 12:00 PM CT.
Alex Smith and the Chiefs visit the Steel City to face Troy Polamalu and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16 on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 12:00 PM CT.
Eric Berry and the Chiefs close out their regular season, facing the San Diego Chargers in a Week 17 matchup in Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 12:00 PM CT.
Week 1 - Tennessee Titans (4-4 road record in 2013 reg. season)
There's nothing quite like opening the NFL regular season at home in front of 78,000-plus die-hard Chiefs fans, who will likely embrace WR Dexter McCluster's return to Arrowhead, before the game that is, with his new team, the Tennessee Titans. Emotions will run high and there's little doubt that McCluster will receive a huge ovation, but once the ball is kicked off, the reunion is over.
The Chiefs are 8-6 against the Titans at Arrowhead.
Week 4 - New England Patriots (4-4 road record in 2013 reg. season)
The New England Patriots visit Arrowhead for a Week 4 matchup against the Chiefs on ESPN's Monday Night Football. Headlining the contest are the franchise QBs, Tom Brady and Alex Smith, but also two of the league's top coaches, Bill Belichick and Andy Reid, who are the only two active head coaches to have victories over every NFL team.
As for the matchup itself, it comes after two road tests, at Denver, followed by a visit to South Beach to face the Dolphins. Kansas City and New England have played five-career games in Arrowhead Stadium, with the Chiefs leading the series, 4-1. Tom Brady is 4-1 against the Chiefs, 1-1 at Arrowhead.
Week 8 - St. Louis Rams (2-6 road record in 2013 reg. season)
After nearly one month away from their last home game, the Chiefs return to the Sea of Red for a Week 8 matchup with the St. Louis Rams for the in-state rivalry, better known as the "Governor's Cup". Chiefs QB Alex Smith is 6-2-1 against the Rams, stemming from his seven years in the NFC West Division as the 49ers QB.
The Chiefs are 2-3 against the Rams at Arrowhead.
Week 9 - New York Jets(2-6 road record in 2013 reg. season)
The Chiefs will have a better idea of which Jets QB they'll face in Week 9, likely either second-year QB Geno Smith or former Eagles QB Michael Vick, who Andy Reid coached in Philadelphia (2009-12). Coach Reid is 2-1 against Michael Vick-led teams, including the Chiefs win last year in Philly, topping the Eagles 26-16. Regardless of who's under center for the Jets, the Chiefs will see a familiar foe, new Jets WR Eric Decker, who signed with the team, following four years in Denver. Decker is 6-2 against the Chiefs, totaling 27 receptions for 474 yards and 7 TDs.
Week 11 - Seattle Seahawks(6-2 road record in 2013 reg. season)
Kansas City returns home in Week 11, following a road test with the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium, to face the best NFL team in 2013, the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks. While Seahawks QB Russell Wilson won't have WR Golden Tate (signed with the Detroit Lions) to throw to, Seattle re-signed WR Sidney Rice, who re-joins the talented receiving corps, including Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and the always-explosive Percy Harvin. On other side of the ball was the stingy Seahwaks defense, headlined by CB Richard Sherman, who led the NFL with eight INTs in 2013.
Chiefs fans will have their opportunity to give the Seahawks a dose of their own medicine, making on-field communication for opponents as frustrating as possible, with decibel-shattering roars and more.
Week 13 - Denver Broncos(6-2 road record in 2013 reg. season)
It's Broncos vs Chiefs, Part II, on NBC's Sunday Night Football. Last season, the teams played each other twice, within three weeks; this season, 11 weeks after their first matchup in 2014, the chess match continues, hopefully with playoff positioning at stake. Denver QB Peyton Manning leads the Broncos into Arrowhead, a place he's played five times (4-1) in his career. He'll be joined by among others, new teammates WR Emmanuel Sanders, CB Aqib Talib, DE DeMarcus Ware and SS T.J. Ward. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is 4-2 in head-to-head coaching matchups against Broncos head coach John Fox.
It'll be the 42nd-career matchup between the clubs in Arrowhead Stadium (Chiefs lead the series 24-17).
Week 15 - Oakland Raiders(1-7 road record in 2013 reg. season)
Three weeks removed from their trip to the "Black Hole", the Chiefs host their long-time rival for what's sure to be another historic matchup. The Silver and Black made several moves in the offseason, beginning on defense, with the additions of DE Justin Tuck and LB LaMarr Woodley and re-signing S Charles Woodson, strengthening its defense, which allowed 363.7 yards (avg.) last season. Oakland will be led in 2014 by QB Matt Schaub, who joined the Raiders via trade with the Houston Texans. Joining Oakland's RBs group, along with Darren McFadden, will be RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who brings eight years of experience, as well as 8,071 yards and 68-career rushing TDs. Free-agent addition, WR James Jones was also signed by the Raiders, following seven years in Green Bay, where he totaled 37 TDs and 4,305 yards.
The Chiefs lead the all-time regular season series against the Raiders (55-50-2), holding a 23-19 record against Oakland at Arrowhead Stadium. Week 17 - San Diego Chargers(4-4 road record in 2013 reg. season)
Every divisional matchup is monumental, especially against the San Diego Chargers, who have had recent success against the Chiefs at Arrowhead, winning the last four contests in Kansas City. Leading the way for San Diego will again be Pro Bowl QB Philip Rivers, who finished with 33 TDs in 2013 (third-best in the league). Rivers will be surrounded with offensive threats like RB Ryan Mathews, TE Antonio Gates and WR Keenan Allen, requiring the best effort from Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's crew.
Leading the Chargers defense will be Pro Bowl S Eric Weddle, who finished with 115 tackles last season, as well as RDE Corey Liuget, who paced the team with 5.5 sacks in 2013.
It will be the 43rd-career matchup between the clubs at Arrowhead Stadium (Chiefs lead 23-19).
For a complete look at the 2014 Chiefs schedule, click here.
