The Kansas City Chiefs released their 2026 NFL schedule, and to put it mildly, it’s a backbreaker. In fact, the three-time modern-day Super Bowl champions have the fifth-toughest schedule, thanks in large part to two playoff teams within their own division. So how will the schedule play out?
Week 1: Sept 14 / 7:15 PM ESPN / vs. Denver Broncos – The final game of the opening weekend comes to Kansas City for a titanic early matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Chiefs. Last season, with a very weak schedule and just enough from quarterback Bo Nix, the Chiefs made it to the divisional round. Unfortunately, a broken leg ended the AFC West champs’ run to the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs, on the flip side, and the rest of the NFL will hold their breath, hoping Patrick Mahomes returns on opening night and once again becomes the face of the NFL. This is a huge game for KC, and a win sets the tone for the rest of September. Score: Chiefs 28 – Broncos 17
Week 2: Sept 20 / 7:20 PM NBC / vs. Indianapolis Colts – Last season, the Colts were on pace to run away with the AFC South, but quarterback Daniel Jones went down with a season-ending injury, and their playoff hopes ended. Which Colts team arrives in Arrowhead remains to be seen.
The Chiefs hosted the Colts last season, and that win might have been their best of the 2025 season. It wasn’t easy, but back-to-back primetime games at Arrowhead are a big boost for the Chiefs to start the season. Score: Chiefs 31 – Colts 21
Week 3: Sept 27 / Noon CBS / @Miami Dolphins – The AFC East team imploded its roster over several months. First, at the trade deadline and in the off-season, they cut deadweight from the roster, costing them tens of millions in dead cap money. It had to be done, as this team is in full rebuild.
This will be the Chiefs’ first of nine road games, and it should be a relatively easy one for Kansas City. Assuming the Chiefs win their two home games, they’ll have little pressure to move to 3-0. Score: Chiefs 27 – Dolphins 7
Week 4: Oct 4 / 3:25 CBS / @Las Vegas Raiders – Kansas City lost their season finale in Las Vegas last season, but that catapulted them to the ninth pick in the NFL Draft. The big question for the Raiders’ quest to climb to respectability will be whether to start first-round pick Fernando Mendoza over Kirk Cousins.
The Chiefs’ defense should be settled in and focused, as this has generally been a home game for Kansas City. Still, the Raiders have some solid pieces on offense, and with Maxx Crosby still on the roster, their defense remains solid enough to create havoc for Mahomes. Score: Chiefs 33 – Raiders 24
Week 5: BYE WEEK
Week 6: Oct 18 / 3:30 CBS / vs. Los Angeles Chargers – Before the schedule came out, many NFL pundits predicted the Chargers would win the AFC West this season. It’s hard to argue with their talent, and they uprooted the coaching staff enough to perhaps believe the hype.
With John Harbaugh as the head coach, the Chargers know how to beat the Chiefs, and the first of two AFC West games is crucial to both teams. Kansas City has a slight edge at home, but this game will come down to the final possession as it did last season. Score: Chiefs 20 – Chargers 17
Week 7: Oct 25 / 7:20 NBC / @Seattle Seahawks – This might be the biggest game on the schedule for both teams. Seattle won the Super Bowl, thanks to the steady hand of Sam Darnold and the running juice of Kenneth Walker III. However, the MVP of that game now wears a Chiefs uniform. He could be the wild card factor in this game.
Like Denver, Seattle had a soft schedule that helped them win the Super Bowl. However, they beat up on bad teams, and when faced with a tough opponent, they won those games as well. Still, this is a tough place to get a win as KC faces a brutal two-game road stretch. Score: Seahawks 31- Chiefs 17
Week 8: Nov 1 / 3:20 CBS / @Denver Broncos – I’m not sure the NFL schedule makers had a choice about the AFC West rematch. Kansas City did not want to play in Denver on Christmas, so this was the best fit for round two.
Denver has a difficult schedule, but I can’t see them losing two games to the Chiefs this season. Mile High has been a nightmare for the Chiefs in recent years, and this game is likely to influence the outcome. Score: Broncos 27 – Chiefs 13
Week 9: Nov 8 / Noon CBS / vs. New York Jets – There’s no question the Jets improved their roster over the past eight months. They were the trade warriors at last season’s deadline, and they used that draft ammunition to assemble the best haul of young talent by any team in the NFL.
Now, their season rides on Geno Smith, who has been woeful since he left Seattle two years ago. This game offers the Chiefs a chance to gain a little steadiness after playing four of their last five on the road and suffering back-to-back losses. Score: Chiefs 34 – Jets 21
Week 10: Nov 15 / Noon CBS / @Atlanta Falcons – The biggest question mark for the Falcons will be the quarterback battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Pennix. Deciding who starts this game will be the toughest decision new head coach Matt Stafanski will make this season.
Kansas City won in Atlanta two years ago, but this Falcons team has serious weapons on both sides of the ball. Still, this should be a win for KC. Score: Chiefs 34 – Falcons 24
Week 11: Nov 22 / Noon CBS/ vs. Arizona Cardinals – With Jeremyiah Love in the backfield, there’s no question the Cardinals’ offense will be better in 2026 than it was last season. He’s arguably the best player drafted in April, and his impact should jolt Arizona’s offense.
The downside is that the Cardinals play in a brutal division, and going on the road against the Chiefs won’t be an easy task. This is a big game for KC because, after this contest, they have three straight road games against likely playoff teams, so it is a must-win. Score: Chiefs 26 – Cardinals 13
Week 12: Nov 26 / 7:20 NBC / @Buffalo Bills – In what will be the season’s highest-rated game, the Chiefs travel to Buffalo for a Thanksgiving Night game against the team that has owned them in the regular season since the Mahomes vs. Allen battles began.
My gut tells me the Bills won’t be as good as they’ve been, but that doesn’t mean the Chiefs can win in Buffalo. As always, Allen is the key. If the Chiefs aren’t aggressive on both sides of the ball, the Bills get the edge in this regular-season matchup. Score: Bills 33 – Chiefs 30
Week 13: Dec 3 / 7:15 Prime / @Los Angeles Rams – This game has so many storylines for the Chiefs and Rams. Their last primetime game in Los Angeles was one of the best regular-season games in NFL history.
Matt Stafford versus Patrick Mahomes is a dream Super Bowl matchup, but this regular-season tilt will see former Chiefs Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson on the other side of the field. They know what’s coming. Score: Rams 31 – Chiefs 30
Week 14: Dec 13 / 3:20 FOX / @Cincinnati Bengals – Will Joe Burrow play at the level we expect, or will injuries continue to define his career? There’s no question that the Bengals’ emphasis in free agency and the NFL Draft on defense could push them into the middle of the pack.
If that happens, they will be the favorite to win the AFC North. The Chiefs have laid one egg after another in Cincy since the ’80s, and I can’t see any reason that will change in this huge AFC showdown. Score: Bengals 38 – Chiefs 24
Week 15: Dec 21 / 7:15 ESPN / vs. New England Patriots – At this stage of the season, we’ll know a lot about both teams. Amid the noise surrounding head coach Mike Vrabel and the pressure on quarterback Drake Maye, we have no idea whether New England’s rise from the ashes was due to a weak schedule or if they stink as badly as their Super Bowl loss.
The Chiefs need this game in the win column, and at this stage, with three of their final four games at Arrowhead, the Chiefs’ division standing and AFC seeding are on the line. This is their time to get into playoff mode and put pressure on the rest of the AFC. Score: Chiefs 27 – Patriots 10
Week 16: Dec 27 / 3:20 / 3:25 CBS / vs. San Francisco 49ers – In the rematch of Super Bowl combatants, this is a brutal late-season game for both teams. The 49ers should be the favorites to win the NFC West, but they failed to deliver the knockout punch against Seattle.
Kansas City has owned the 49ers in the regular season and postseason with Mahomes under center. I do not expect that to change in this post-Christmas game in Kansas City. This game comes down to who wants it more, and KC has proven they are the better team down the stretch. Score: Chiefs 38 – 49ers 27
Week 17: Jan 2 / TBD / Peacock / vs. Los Angeles Chargers – This will be a Saturday game, likely in prime time. The NFL has already indicated this is its flex option for its triple header. This game could, and quite likely will, determine the winner of the AFC West. I like the Chiefs to return to dominating their AFC West rival.
If the Chargers managed to navigate the first ten weeks of their schedule, which might be the hardest in the division, this game will likely be the most significant on the schedule for both teams. The Chargers, though, end the season at Denver, while KC has the Raiders at home. Score: Chiefs 21 – Chargers 17
Week 18: Jan 7-8 / TBD / vs. Las Vegas Raiders – It’s likely the Chiefs will rest their starters and await the outcome of the Chargers game against the Broncos. If KC needs the win, the Raiders will be positioning for the draft and assessing where they stand with their young quarterback.
The NFL schedule makers helped the Chiefs in the final week of the season. Either this is a layup for KC, or it’s a rest week. The Raiders should not be much of an issue, though you never know. The Chiefs will do what’s best for their playoff run. Score: Chiefs 17 – Raiders 16
Final Record: 13-4 (AFC West Champs)
