KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Football League announced the regular season schedule for the 2012 season on Tuesday. The Kansas City Chiefs will begin their 2012 slate when they host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 9 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs schedule features two back-to-back, nationally-televised, primetime games. This season will mark the third-consecutive year the Chiefs have played at least one primetime contest. Kansas City will play eight games against seven playoff teams from the 2011 season.
"We are excited about this season's schedule and looking forward to the challenge," said Chiefs Head Coach Romeo Crennel. "Our fans have provided us tremendous home-field advantage throughout the years at Arrowhead Stadium and we are eager to continue the work and preparation that will lead us into kickoff weekend."
In Week 1, Atlanta visits Arrowhead for the first time since 2004, when the Chiefs set an NFL record with two running backs each recording four rushing touchdowns in the same game in a 56-10 triumph. The Chiefs then hit the road for two away contests in Buffalo and New Orleans in Weeks 2 and 3. This season marks the fifth-consecutive year the Chiefs have played against the Bills in the regular season, while the previous four meetings have been at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas City returns home on Sept. 30 to take on San Diego. The Chiefs lead the series against the Chargers, holding a 52-50-1 record. The Chiefs then host the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 7. The matchup will mark the first time the teams have faced off since the Wild Card round in 2010.
The Chiefs visit Tampa Bay on Oct. 14 prior to their bye week in Week 7 (Oct. 21). After the bye, Kansas City faces their division rival, the Oakland Raiders, at home on Oct. 28. The club then has back-to-back, nationally-televised, primetime road contests in a Thursday night matchup on NFL Network in San Diego (Nov. 1) followed by a Monday Night Football appearance on ESPN in Pittsburgh (Nov. 12).
The Chiefs host three-straight home games vs. Cincinnati (Nov. 18), Denver (Nov. 25) and Carolina (Dec. 2) before hitting the road again for contests at Cleveland (Dec. 9) and Oakland (Dec. 16). The trip to Cleveland will mark Romeo Crennel's first visit back to Cleveland Browns Stadium as a head coach, where he held the same position from 2005-08.
Kansas City then takes on Indianapolis at home (Dec. 23) before closing out the 2012 regular season in Denver on Dec. 30. Kansas City leads the all-time series vs. Denver with a 56-47 record.
