The Kansas City Chiefs will play the most prime-time games in the league in 2017 (six games), starting with a trip to New England for the kickoff game against the Patriots. The last time the Patriots and Chiefs met in the regular season was Week 4, 2014. The Chiefs won that game 41-14 (the Patriots' second worst loss of the Bill Belichick era), leading to Belichick's, "On to Cincinnati" press conference.

In the last five seasons, strength of schedule has had a strong correlation to a team's chances of making the playoffs. During that time, 42.3 percent of teams with top-five toughest schedules made the playoffs, while 52 percent of teams with the top-five easiest schedules made playoffs.

Seven teams will have a three-game road trip during the 2017 season: 49ers, Falcons, Broncos, Bengals, Vikings, Patriots, and Eagles.

AFC West teams take the lead in toughest schedules. The Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders rank first through fourth in strength of schedule, facing 2016 opponent win percentages of 0.578, 0.576, 0.568 and 0.564, respectively.

The Chicago Bears have the toughest first four games in 2017, going up against the Falcons, Buccaneers, Steelers and Packers to start the season. The Steelers, meanwhile, have the easiest start, playing against the Browns, Vikings, Bears and Ravens in their first four games.

Several notable newly-signed players will face their 2016 teams in 2017, including Seahawks running back Eddie Lacy (playing the Packers in Week 1), Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (playing the Bears in Week 12), Jaguars defensive tackle Calais Campbell (playing the Cardinals in Week 12), and Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers (playing the Packers in Week 15).

Three of the four teams in the AFC South rank among the teams with the easiest strength of schedule. The Colts, Titans and Jaguars have opponent win percentages of 0.424, 0.439 and 0.439, respectively. The Houston Texans, meanwhile, have it only slightly harder, with an opponent win percentage of 0.455 (tied for fifth easiest schedule).

The Giants and the Packers are the only teams to open the season with back-to-back games against 2016 playoff teams. The Giants start the season against the Cowboys, then play the Lions in Week 2. The Packers face off against the Seahawks and Falcons in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively.

Three of the six new head coaches rank in the top five in toughest strength of schedule. Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph has the hardest schedule in the league. Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn comes in third, while Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has the fifth toughest schedule.

Every 2016 playoff game from the Divisional Round through the Super Bowl will be replayed in the 2017 season -- the first time since the 2002 realignment that this has occurred. The Patriots and Falcons will get their rematch of Super Bowl LI in Week 7.