2024 NFL schedule allows the Kansas City Chiefs to potentially lock up the AFC West earlier than last season

The Kansas City Chiefs, having been successful for a considerable period, now face a challenging 2024 schedule. This is a testament to their sustained success, as they have created rivalries with other top teams that the NFL wants to see year after year. Consequently, the Chiefs are set to face one of the toughest schedules to start the season of any team.

They play the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals right from the start, which will not be easy. They will be lucky to go 2-0 to start, but it can be done. As for the rest of their schedule, though, there are parts of it that do favor the Chiefs. Specifically, when you compare their schedule to their division rivals' schedule, the Chiefs can do something that took them a while to do last year.

By the time Week 13 comes along, the Chiefs have the opportunity to lock up and win the AFC West over the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers. Here's how:

After Week 13, the Chiefs will have completed four division games, one against each team and two against the Raiders. These are division games, where victory is not guaranteed. However, considering the offseason performances of the Chargers and Broncos, these games should be viewed as potential wins, giving the Chiefs a strategic advantage.

The one team the Chiefs have to worry about is the Raiders, who stole a home game on Christmas last season. By Week 14, the Chiefs will have played them twice. If they can win both of those games and the other two, they will practically have the AFC West locked up.