On Thursday, the NFL released the regular season schedule for all 32 teams. The Chiefs will be entering their sixth season under the leadership of head coach Andy Reid. Plenty of roster moves have been made, with the draft still to come. Also, all eyes are on Patrick Mahomes, as he gets set for his first full season as the KC starting quarterback. Let’s take a look at the schedule.
Week 1: At Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday September 9 3:05pm CT
The Chiefs had the biggest comeback win in Chiefs history when they hosted the Chargers to begin 2016. But a lot has changed since then, and the Chargers have a lot riding on this season. The AFC West could very well come down to the Chiefs and Chargers again in 2018. The Chargers have had plenty of trouble with the Chiefs recently, losing eight straight to Kansas City. So, this could end up being a good start to the Chiefs season if the Chiefs dominance over the Bolts continues.
Week 2: At Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday September 16 Noon CT
With the second game, the Chiefs face arguably their biggest nemesis since Andy Reid has become head coach. This game could have some extra incentive for the Steelers, as it will be their home opener. The Steelers have also won four straight home openers. Pittsburgh can sometimes have slow starts in early season games though, so this could be a chance for the Chiefs to steal a win on the road at the right time, early on in the season.
Week 3: Vs San Francisco 49ers, Sunday September 23 Noon CT
The Chiefs home opener looks to be one of the more juicer matchups on the Chiefs home schedule this year. Jimmy Garoppolo vs Patrick Mahomes should be a beauty to watch. The head coaching matchup is very intriguing as well, as Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan have some of the deepest minds in the league. The new look 49ers look to have high expectations for 2018 in the rugged NFC Conference. Really exciting game for the home opener.
Week 4: At Denver Broncos, Monday October 1 7:15pm CT
The Chiefs head to Mile High for their first primetime game of the year. The Broncos are looking to rebound after one of their worst seasons in recent history. Denver currently hold the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, will they draft a quarterback? Even if they do, Case Keenum is slated to be under center following a career year with the Vikings.
Week 5: Vs Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday October 7 Noon CT
The Jaguars surprising uproar from last season was good enough to get them to the AFC Championship game. Will they pull back, or will their suffocating defense lead them back to the playoffs? This could easily be one of the best, if not the best defenses Patrick Mahomes and Co. will see all season. Another fun matchup at Arrowhead, that should draw a huge crowd.
Week 6: At New England Patriots, Sunday October 14 7:20pm CT
The Chiefs started off last season right with a opening night primetime win in Foxborough. They will look to do it again this season in mid-October. New England will look a little different with former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, cornerback Malcolm Bulter, and running back Dion Lewis all moving on to continue their careers elsewhere. But the thing is, they still have the greatest quarterback to ever play in Tom Brady. The ageless wonder is still at the top of his game, and it will be another early season monster the Chiefs will have to slay.
Week 7: Vs Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday October 21 Noon CT
It looked very possible that Marvin Lewis was going to be relieved of his duties as head coach of the Bengals at the end of last season. But, a strong push to end last season was enough for Bengals’ brass to give Lewis a chance to prove himself. If the Bengals do play like they did to end last season, the Chiefs will need to be on top of their game coming off the trip to New England.
Week 8: Vs Denver Broncos, Sunday October 28 Noon CT
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The Chiefs will be finished with their matchups against the Broncos before their bye week. The Broncos have lost two straight in Kansas City, and who knows how much they will be playing for at this point in a semi-rebuilding year. Part of the reason the Chiefs have found recent success at home against Denver, is because of how they’ve been able to slow down a defense that is still one of the more dominant in the league. But, with Aqib Talib no longer in their secondary, Mahomes and his multiple weapons could have show even more ways to disrupt the Broncos D.
Week 9: At Cleveland Browns, Sunday November 4 Noon CT
John Dorsey never played on the field for the Chiefs, but he was a major part in revamping the Chiefs roster and turning them around going into 2013. The former Chiefs general manager is the newest hire to try and save the hapless Browns franchise. Dorsey is taking over a Browns squad that is just 1-31 in two years with Hue Jackson as head coach and they were the second team ever to finish 0-16 in 2017. With the free agent moves and plentiful draft picks, could Cleveland take a major leap in 2018? It’s not impossible, but it’s been a long time since Cleveland has been able to find any traction.
Week 10: Vs Arizona Cardinals, Sunday November 11 Noon CT
The Cardinals enter 2018 with a rookie head coach and a veteran quarterback who is injury prone in Sam Bradford. On paper, this looks like a very winnable game for the Chiefs. Kansas City also has a good history at home against the Cardinals. The Chiefs have won all four meetings when these teams have met at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 11: At Los Angeles Rams (in Mexico City), Monday November 19 7:15pm CT
There is so much headlines that fans can look towards with this game. The trip to Mexico City for one, and this game features two of the young, dynamic teams in the NFL. But the biggest storyline for Chiefs fans is going to be Marcus Peters being on the opposite side of Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs traded Peters to the Rams earlier this offseason. Peters stats speak for itself, but his time had just simply ran out in KC. Chiefs fans have seen the emotion Peters plays with, and there will a lot riding on this contest, considering it’s a matchup that does not affect the standings as much as conference games do.
Week 12: BYE WEEK
Week 13: At Oakland Raiders, Sunday December 2 3:05pm CT
Jon Gruden is back to head coaching in the NFL, and out of the announce booth. Gruden will be beginning his second stint as Raiders head coach, and the rivalry is just as intense now as when he was first in Oakland. The Chiefs trip to Oakland last year saw an ugly, unbelieveable ending for Kansas City. Both teams have changed plenty going into 2018, so it could be a bit of a different clash then some of their recent meetings. Great way to start off December.
Week 14: Vs Baltimore Ravens, Sunday December 9 Noon CT
The Ravens looked like they had an easy shot to get into the postseason last year. Then, the Bengals pulled a rabbit out of their hat and slammed the door on the Ravens 2017 season. John Harbaugh’s seat has sure gotten hotter as head coach in recent years. The Ravens will need a big year to possibly save his job. This would be a huge win for Kansas City late in the season, if Baltimore is still pushing for a playoff spot in the AFC.
Week 15: Vs Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday December 13 7:20pm CT
The only primetime game on tap at Arrowhead for 2018. Last year in Week 15, the Chiefs got a big home win over the Chargers on primetime. Last year’s matchup was also essentially for the AFC West crown. Will it be the same result this year?
Week 16: At Seattle Seahawks, Sunday December 23 7:20pm CT
The Chiefs final interconference matchup of 2018 makes for another intriguing quarterback matchup. As crazy of plays that Mahomes can dazzle with and create on the field. Russell Wilson has set a whole other level on making defenders look silly on plays where they should of stopped him. Wilson basically carried Seattle on his back with little help through most of 2017, and now Seattle’s core from their Super Bowl 48 win is starting to disintegrate. Richard Sherman has already left for the rival 49ers. Kam Chancellor has been banged up a lot recently. Earl Thomas seems ready to move on to a new team. Seeing what kind of punch the Seahawks will throw at Kansas City in late December should be interesting.
Week 17: Vs Oakland Raiders, Sunday December 30 Noon CT
The regular season finale will bring the Raiders into Chiefs Kingdom. The Raiders have fallen flat at Arrowhead in recent years, and Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has had some of his worst games in Kansas City. Time will tell how much this game will mean for the AFC West division and the AFC playoff picture, but either way it’s still going to be an entertaining way to end the regular season.
