The defending champions open the 2020 season with aspirations to become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Patriots in 2003-04. The Chiefs will have a tough road to Tampa Bay for the big game, but with Patrick Mahomes, the best football player on the planet, they are the favorites to win it all in 2020-21. Their schedule features several intriguing matchups and a whopping 5 primetime games, their 4th straight year with at least 5 games under the lights. Let’s get into predicting the 2020 Chiefs schedule, week by week.
Week 1: Thursday, vs Houston Texans, 8:20 PM EST- (W) 1-0
A rematch of the AFC Divisional round plays out favorably for the Chiefs, as it did just a few months ago. With no significant offseason losses, the 2020 Chiefs may be even better than last year’s Super Bowl-winning team, so it will come as no surprise if they beat the Texans at home as 10 point favorites.
Week 2: Sunday, at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 PM EST- (W) 2-0
The Chiefs continue their dominant streak over the Chargers in Week 2, having won 11 of the last 12 matchups. The Chargers are lucky this game will likely be played without fans, as Chiefs Kingdom would make Sofi Stadium feel more like Arrowhead. Mahomes will have a tough matchup against the league’s most underrated secondary, but the Chiefs will ultimately cruise to an easy victory.
Week 3: Monday, at Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 PM EST- (L) 2-1
Lamar Jackson will look to reverse his luck against the Chiefs in this early candidate for game of the year. The 2019 MVP is 0-2 in his career against Kansas City and has only lost once in the regular season to a team other than the Chiefs. On paper, this game has potential to match the pedigree of the best regular-season game in history, Chiefs vs Rams (2018), and I envision Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s birds coming out on top at the Bank.
BrokenAnkles.gifpic.twitter.com/AiPm2Ilc8d
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 22, 2019
Even the defending champs aren’t immune to the MVP’s Lamarvelous moves.
Week 4: Sunday, vs New England Patriots, 4:25 PM EST- (W) 3-1
The Brady-less Patriots will be no match for the high-octane Chiefs offense in this early season matchup. Expect an absolute rout in a game that will signify the passing of the torch from one dynasty to another as the Chiefs come out on top. The Patriots have a strong secondary, but they will struggle to put up double-digit points against an underrated Chiefs front.
Week 5: Sunday, vs Las Vegas Raiders, 1:00 PM EST- (W) 4-1
The Chiefs open the season series versus their most hated rival at Arrowhead Stadium. They face a much-improved Raiders squad but will have no trouble taking care of business. Derek Carr struggled in 2019 in both games against the Chiefs, throwing four interceptions with just two scores. With Carr on a short leash in 2020, there is a real possibility of Marcus Mariota replacing him in this game if things turn black for the Raiders.
Week 6: Thursday, at Buffalo Bills, 8:20 PM EST- (W) 5-1
Two teams that saw success in the 1990s but until recently have failed to make much noise square off in what will be a gritty primetime matchup off the shores of Lake Erie. Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes will duel in one of the most entertaining games of the year, but ultimately Allen will have trouble keeping pace with Mahomes and his plethora of weapons. Expect a close game with the Chiefs in the driver’s seat.
Week 7: Sunday, at Denver Broncos, 4:25 PM EST- (W) 6-1
The Denver Broncos have lost every single game to the Chiefs since the days of Peyton Manning. Whether Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Drew Lock, or even Joe Flacco is under center, the boys of Mile High just can’t seem to get one back on their bitter foes. Their losing streak continues in Week 7, but Drew Lock and his swiss army knife offense will put up a respectable fight.
Week 8: Sunday, vs New York Jets, 1:00 PM EST- (W) 7-1
Mahomes will face Sam Darnold in Week 8, who is in a much different situation than Drew Lock in Denver. Lock has 3 versatile receivers, two speedy tight ends, and two Pro-Bowl halfbacks at his disposal, compared to Darnold, who has Le’Veon Bell and Breshad Perriman to play with. The Chiefs outmatch the Jets in all areas of the ball, and the Jets will fall as Adam Gase’s seat starts to get a little warmer.
Week 9: Sunday, vs Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM EST- (W) 8-1
Except for Chiefs fans and sadistic Falcons, Bucs, and Saints fans, very few people will enjoy watching the Panthers get beaten to a pulp when they visit the Chiefs in Week 9. After finishing the 2019 season with 8 straight losses and cutting 2015 MVP Cam Newton, the Panthers enter 2020 as one of the league’s worst teams. Expect Mahomes to be out of the game by the third quarter.
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Sunday, at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:20 PM EST- (W) 9-1
The Chiefs enter Allegiant Stadium, aka the Death Star, for the first time ever in Week 11. While the Raiders’ new stadium will be very flashy, their play on the field will be quite the opposite. They allowed 4 touchdowns in each game against the Chiefs last season, and with the defending champions coming off a bye, there is simply no stopping the top offense in the NFL. If fans are allowed, expect the ones cheering for the Raiders to be filing out in the early 4th quarter.
Week 12: Sunday, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 PM EST- (L) 9-2
The Chiefs face Tom Brady on the road for the 3rd straight year in the regular season. After barely defeating the 6-time Super Bowl champ in 2019, Kansas City is shaping up to meet a fate similar to that of the 2018 AFC Championship game. While Dee Ford won’t be able to jump offsides, they’ll come out on the wrong side of a shootout. Ultimately, the deciding factor will be the Bucs’ underrated secondary and if they can hold the Chiefs to 30 points or less, the Bucs will have the advantage.
Week 13: Sunday, vs Denver Broncos, 8:20 PM EST- (W) 10-2
In the Chiefs’ final primetime game and penultimate division game, they face the Denver Broncos, who should be fighting for one of the 3 wildcard spots around this time. The game will be much more competitive than the Week 7 contest, but again, the coaching and quarterbacking experience of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes will prevail. The Broncos will keep it close, but will never lead for the entire game.
Week 14: Sunday, at Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM EST- (W) 11-2
Just like the matchup with the Carolina Panthers, expect a brutal blowout in a game featuring two polar opposites. The Dolphins have a strong case as the most improved team, but they are still in the midst of a total rebuild and have virtually no chance against a top 5 squad. If Chris Jones is still on the Chiefs by Week 14, he should feast on one of the league’s worst lines with multiple sacks.
Week 15: Sunday, at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 PM EST- (L) 11-3
Other than the Ravens, the Saints are the toughest opponent the Chiefs will face this upcoming season. The Superdome is one of the toughest stadiums in America to travel to, and with an upgraded supporting cast, Drew Brees will ball out per usual in a personal grudge match against the man who beat him for 2018 MVP. This game will be yet another shootout, but all signs point to a victory for the Black and Gold.
Week 16: Sunday, vs Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 PM EST- (W) 12-3
After falling to the Saints, the Chiefs will bounce back against a Falcons team with nothing to play for in the waning weeks of the season. This game appears as a trap game, but with the division title potentially not locked up yet, the Chiefs will show out as the Falcons downward spiral that started with a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI continues.
Week 17: Sunday, vs Los Angeles Chargers, 1:00 PM EST- (W) 13-3
For the second straight year, the Chiefs close out a strong season with a victory against the Chargers to finish 6-0 against divisional opponents. The game will be in the hands of the Chiefs from the beginning and end in a multiple possession victory. With the win, the Chiefs will clinch the 2nd seed in the AFC, but with the new playoff format, they will have to play Wild Card Weekend.
Overall, the 2020-21 season is shaping out to be another successful one for the defending champs. They have a legitimate chance at repeating but will face several tough opponents on the road to glory. The Chiefs can easily earn a top-2 seed in the AFC, but they will likely have to get through Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens to get back to the top of the Mount Olympus of the NFL.