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.