In case you didn't already feel it—football season is just around the corner.
That's going to feel especially true now that the NFL has released the 2016 schedule, and it's one that Kansas City Chiefs fans are going to like.
Here are six things you need to know about the 2016 Chiefs schedule:
Chiefs Open the Season at Home Against the San Diego Chargers
The quest to return to the playoffs for the third time in four years kicks off in the friendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, September 11 at 12:00 p.m. CT in the opening game of the 2016 season for both teams.
For the third time in four years, the Chiefs will also close out the regular season against the Chargers, whom they played in the regular season finale in both 2013 and 2014.
But there's no better place to get things started in Week 1 than the home of Chiefs Kingdom—Arrowhead Stadium.
Three Primetime Games on the Slate
The Chiefs will play three nationally televised games this season, and two of them will be at home.
On Sunday, October 2, the Chiefs will travel to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. That game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The Chiefs will host the first of their two primetime games in 2016 against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday Night Football on December 8. That game is scheduled to begin at 7:25 p.m. CT.
The third nationally televised game will come just two weeks later on Christmas night against the Denver Broncos. That game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT.
It's the second time in franchise history the Chiefs have played on Christmas Day in the regular season. Back in 2004, the Chiefs won a thriller over the Raiders, 31-30.
Divisional Games Loaded Late in Season
Three of the six divisional games for the Chiefs in 2016 will take place in the final four weeks of the season, and two of those are on national television.
The Chiefs will host the Raiders (December 8) and Broncos (December 25), then travel to face the Chargers (January 1) in the final four weeks of the season.
Chiefs Will Face Four of Last Year's Playoff Teams
The Chiefs will play five games against four teams who made the playoffs in 2015, and four of those games will be on the road.
They face the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos twice, fellow AFC playoff teams in the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, and then they'll also travel to take on the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers.
The 2016 opponents for the Chiefs boasted a combined record of 104-104 (.500) last season.
Coach Andy Reid also boasts a 47-37 career regular season record against the 2016 opponents.
Bye Week Comes Early in 2016
Sandwiched between road games against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 2, and then the Oakland Raiders on October 16, the Chiefs will have their bye in Week 5.
Chiefs Fans Get Tailgating Bonus Early in the Season
If there's one thing that we know Chiefs fans do well, it's tailgating, and the Week 3 game against the New York Jets at Arrowhead Stadium provides a nice little bonus for fans early in the season.
The game will kick off at 3:25 p.m. CT instead of the usual 12:00 p.m. CT time, and combined with the game being early in the season, the chance of good weather is high.
This is a good combination for Chiefs Kingdom to get out to Arrowhead early and start prepping for the Jets, who last came to Arrowhead back in 2014, with the Chiefs picking up the 24-10 win.
A look at the stadiums and teams we are playing in 2016
