Could someone post next year's schedule? It looks brutal, so
 

how many games can we realistically win? I do think with some luck, and healthy players, we could compete for the AFC West title, or do you think that is unlealistic too???

http://www.kcchiefs.com/media/images...93006626964694
*2009 - AFC East - Buffalo - AFC South Jacksonville

Colts?

That is a bitch of a schedule for a GOOD team, and we are up and comers. (fingers crossed).

I'm almost certain there's some connection.

I don't see it.

Tough schedule will push them harder. IF they get turned around and accidentally back into the playoffs, the tougher schedule will have them a bit better prepared.

Realistically with this schedule this year, for a team that will be in transition 8-8 would be tremendous IMHO. Our defense will probably still be in flux and our offense will be learning a new system. Even if it is relatively similar to what the Pats and Cards ran, there will still be a learning curve with this team that will result in some losses. To expect anything beyond 8-8 is ridiculous. Not that I don't believe in Pioli and what he is bringing to Arrowhead, but that the thought we'd pull a Miami/Baltimore turnaround is somewhat unrealistic.

The good news is that I think the Chargers are on the downhill slide and will have to rebuild soon, Denver is in complete disarray and I doubt their FA binge will land them in the playoffs, and Oakland is, well they're the Faiders; and Al Davis is still alive. Won't worry too much about them. We can win some games even if it is only in our own division.

:)

It's still way early to even guess, really.

The draft is still a long ways away, our defensive staff still isn't set, hell we don't even know what scheme we'll be running.

We still have a lot of needs, and Pioli seems intent on building the back-end of the roster through FA and focusing on the draft for starters. It's actually a little puzzling since it seems like a long-term strategy, yet we trade for a 27 year old QB which seems like a "win-now" approach.

The Chargers still have the most talented roster in our division. How many draft picks do they have, seems like they traded their 2nd and mayber 3rd round picks away last year, didn't they? I'd have to look that up to verify.

The Raiders seem intent on upgrading their line, which IMO is bad news for us since that's what has held back that offense mostly (other than Fatmarcus)...a lot of their outlook will depend on his offseason. If he shows up fat and out of shape again, then they will struggle again even if they fine-tune that running game, which I expect they're focusing on.

The Broncos are hard to figure out. They seem to be in disarray, but really I think it's Josh changing the culture of the locker room, much like what Haley is doing with his interaction with Waters. "I'm the boss, I run the show, I'll let you know what the plan is when I'm ready, and everyone on this team is subject to losing their job / status with this team." Mike Nolan is a very good defensive coach, although they are missing a lot of components for him to work with. The aging players they've signed may give him some help next year, but I don't see any of them as long-term assets. Nevertheless, they have reshaped that roster quite a bit.

And the schedule is brutal having to play the NFC East and AFC North.

The Chargers don't have a 2nd round pick, I'm pretty sure they have at least 1 3rd round pick, if not 2.

I can't say I understand your thinking here...what about being 27 at QB makes you think it's a "win now" approach?

It's perfectly reasonable to expect him to start for 7+ years....if he were a tailback I'd see your point, but I think Cassel was a smart choice mainly because he gives you a future and a chance to win now.

i agree. Im not sure why people say that Cassel is a "Win-Now" QB. He's only 27. A 27 year old QB that has basically been riding the bench since high school. He has ONE season worth of football hits. And we're not talking one NFL season, i mean ONE season since high school. IMO, he's just as physically young as any rookie, but with 4 yrs of NFL conditioning programs under his belt for bulk and muscle.

Well, since it's a foregone conclusion we'll win the AFC West, all we need to figure out is....

Can we go 16-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I see both sides. My preference would have been to draft a young potential franchise QB, and there probably would have been one available (Sanchez). That would have told me we're building long-term. I really feel like one of the main reasons we've sucked has been our reluctance to draft and develop our own QB, a real "Chief".

Instead, we trade for someone who knows the system, but was a backup in college and the pros. I guess I'm leary of Scott Mitchell 2.0, but I hope Pioli is right about this kid. And you lose the 2nd round pick, which is essentially a low 1st round, where there would have been great value at several key positions of need, and so lose another young building-block.

Hey, I'm not chastising them for it, it was a hell of a deal when everyone else figured it would take #3 to get him. Just seems like a "win now" move to me.

I hope I'm wrong, the guy elevates to one of the top 5 QBs, and plays for the next decade.

We don't have a Dolphins schedule, so expecting a Dolphins in '08 turnaround is foolhardy. The team would probably be lucky to go 7-9.

I'd put 5.5 wins as the O/U.

Age catches up to you whether you take football hits or not. I'm not the same physically as I was when I was 27.

And why is this? I see our division competitors improving, not declining, except maybe the Chargers but they're already loaded - they are the division favorites, hands-down.

It's win now because we didn't draft Cassel. Period. .


PhilFree:arrow:

Because he has a year of experience and the GM basically personally endorsed him.

The actual schedule isn't out yet.

I think the Chiefs' talent is better than most in here think. Therefore, I think the Chiefs can win the division. I think the division will be down this year and there will be another team to win it with a 9-7/8-8 kind of year.

I think 3-4 defense actually helps several of the defenders. And, I think the Chiefs could get the offense going with Bowe, Cassel, Tony and LJ. Throw in guys like Bradley, Cottam and Charles, and HOPEFULLY Franklin.... and the Chiefs offense could be pretty potent.

I think the Chiefs have a good foundation in place and are lacking mainly experience. I also think that the Chiefs should continue to add pieces this year.

I would love to see LJ traded, but I don't think that happens. I don't think the Chiefs cut him because they have the cap room to keep him without a problem and I think the new staff maybe just the change he needs.

So, expect him to be traded or cut tomorrow.

Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Dallas
Giants
Philly
Washington


tough non-con

As it will be for Oakland, San Diego, and Denver. There most likely will be no wild card comming out of the West. The games against each other inside the division will likely decide who wins the West and goes to the playoffs.

I think we're gonna win 6 games. Or maybe I'm hoping we win 6 games. I do think it can be done though.

I was a little upset about Cassel, but everyone who has worked with him seems to think he's the real deal, so I guess we'll see. Keep your fingers crossed.

Yes, Matt Leinart proved that age is way more important than skills, right?:D

I tend to be more optimistic than most, but you think we'll win 9 games with this schedule?

Let's assume we go 4-2 in division, which is very optimistic IMO.

Where do get 5 wins among these teams?

At home
Browns
Steelers
Cowboys
Giants
Bills

Away
Ravens
Bengals
Eagles
Redskins
Jaguars

Maybe the Browns, Bills, and Bengals. Maybe. I hope I'm wrong, and we improve dramatically with good coaching, but this schedule is very tough.

It's still too early to make any predictions. We don't know what we're going to look like in September, much less anybody else.

Twist it however you like, but saying that he's like a rookie or 1st year player because he hasn't taken hits is not a truly accurate statement IMO. Even for a RB, look at LJ who supposedly hadn't taken too many hits before we ran him into the ground. And then he got hurt, as he's closing in on 30.

Stafford is what, 21? And how old is Sanchez, 21 or 22? 5 or 6 years is a big difference.

Just my opinion...

Quarterback is not the position for this argument. Most of them don't even start to click until they're 26 or 27 and it's not at all unusual to see QBs playing into their mid- to late-30s.

To use a rookie as an example, this would essentially be like trading for one of them after they've been groomed for 5 years, skipping the developmental stage and landing them right as they rise into their prime career years. Sort of like what New Orleans did with Drew Brees.

Yep, we could - but I'm thinking 5. We split with our division rivals and beat Cincinnati and Cleveland.

These guys aren't going to stop trying to develop QBs just because they traded for Cassel. They aren't going to a win now approach, they're going to a win now and win later approach, IMO.

Good point.

The argument is moot now anyway, so I'll try not to bring it up again.

I just would have preferred to draft and develop. Maybe it's because we haven't done it since...well, a very long time.

I'm calling it: The Chiefs will beat the Redskins. I'm serious.

They've straight-up said they plan to draft one virtually every year, so I'd say you're exactly right.

Okay, lets go with 4-2.

I like the Chiefs chances against the Jags, the Redskins, the Bengals, the Browns, the Bills and the Cowboys at home.

Oh, and depending on when the Chiefs get the Eagles... McNabb might be out. I think the Ravens on the road is a loss. I think the Giants and Steelers at home are losses.

Teams lose games they should have won and win games they should lose all the time.

I just think the Chiefs will be an 8-8/9-7 team and will have a shot at the division.

You're definitely drinking more kool-aid than I am. Jags, Redskins, Bills, Eagles, Cowboys? Wow.

Um how long have you follow non-sensible? He is the ultimate homer... His love for all things Herm was almost sickening...

I don't think we've ever agreed on anything.

I'm a homer too, but reality has to creep in somewhere.

I mean, the Cowboys & Eagles? Gimme a break.

And the Jags are a very physical team.

How many wins? More than last year!!!

In all likelyhood, we will not win the SB this year, therefore it's good we are playing a tough schedule this year. Just maybe we will have a little better schedule next year and/or the next when we should be making waves in the playoffs.

I think it's highly unlikely we could go too far this year cuz:

1. We have a young team and Pioli/Haley are rebuilding it ... takes time;
2. We have a new, young, being "broken-in" head coach ... usually takes a couple of years for them to gain necessary experience;
3. We have a first time GM ... he will be much better as time goes forward;
4. It takes time to establish the "winning culture" we will need to win every year, and that's the goal.

Yeah, we'll be lucky to get a full year out of somebody that old....

What a fuqtard.

ROFL

Your lack of reading comprehension is sickening....

I am just smart enough to realize that not everything Herm did, and not every coach associated with him are bad just because they are associated with him.

I am glad to see him gone, but I do think he was given a poor situation to work with, and I think he was better than many in here think... but still not good enough.

It is a fine line and requires logic and discernment.... two things that you clearly lack. So, I understand why you have to categorize me as a Herm Lover.

I am not saying they will win those games, just games that I think the Chiefs have a realistic chance in.

I think the Jags are on the way down, not the way up. I am not a huge fan of Gerrard. They lost a leader on defense, and I think Jack Del Rio is starting to lose the team.

The Cowboys game is at Arrowhead. The Cowboys are without TO. I realize that he was a problem, but he was also a big threat to the defense. Chris Cany is gone, Roy Williams is gone, and the Cowboys are without a first and third. Oh, and Wade Phillips is still coaching. Jerry Jones is still undermining his coach.

Why are you scared of the Redskins? Jim Zorn? Are you freaking kidding me? Jason Campbell? Oh, and they just resigned Hall. Another team that is going the WRONG way.

Bills. Trent Edwards had a bit of a come uppance last year. The Chiefs will get the Bills at home. I think the Bills could be better than the Jags, Cowboys or Redskins, but they will be at Arrowhead and I think the Chiefs have a good shot.

Eagles: Okay, with this team it is about when you play them. If you catch them without Donovan McNabb, you probably have a pretty good chance against them. But, if they are healthy, then no, I don't think the Chiefs have a good chance.

It isn't about the 'kool aid', it is about which way I think the Chiefs are going and which way I think these teams are going.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfceast/0...port-card.html

Here is a blog covering the moves so far in the NFC East.

I think the Redskins have blown it again. I think the Eagles have lost a leader on defense and it will be tough to overcome that, and McNabb has yet to agree to an extension because the team hasn't made any real moves.

The Cowboys have lost TO and Canty, both better than the guys they will have to replace them.

I have a ton of faith in the Eagles staff, so I expect them to get better. But, the Skins and Cowboys will be about the same or worse IMO.