Chiefs will hit road early in ’09

? Kansas City Chiefs fans wanting to take some fall vacation without missing any home games should book travel this year in September or November.

In a 2009 schedule released Tuesday that reflects their 2-14 record last year, the Chiefs will play only one home game in each of those two months. But in both October and December, they’ll play at Arrowhead Stadium three times.

Every home game starts at noon on Sunday. The NFL did not invite Kansas City to play on a holiday or a Monday night, either home or away.

Unless something is changed late in the season under the flexibility agreement with television, the Chiefs’ only night games will be the four exhibition contests in August and early September.

The season for first-year head coach Todd Haley and his team could be challenging. His rebuilding Chiefs will have six games against five 2008 playoff teams, including the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers at home on Nov. 22.

The Chiefs will open the regular season at Baltimore on Sept. 13, and open their home schedule the next week against Oakland. It’ll be the second year in a row they play Oakland in their first game in front of the home fans.

In addition to their home-and-home series against AFC West rivals, the Chiefs’ home-game opponents include the Steelers, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns.

From Nov. 22 through Dec. 20, the Chiefs will play four of five at home, including their first three-game homestand since 1996.

Kansas City is at Philadelphia on Sept. 27, then at home the two following Sundays against the Giants and Cowboys.

The Chiefs’ exhibition season starts Aug. 15 against Houston. They’re at Minnesota on Aug. 21, home to Seattle on Aug. 29 and conclude their practice season at St. Louis on Sept. 3.