The NFL schedule release rules. We've already known every team's opponents for literal months now, and teams aren't even close to looking like their finished product for 2021 yet. And yet, none of that means anything to a fanbase that simply cannot get enough NFL news. There are real sports happening today and they'll get talked about *after* the NFL schedule reveal gets broken down in every which way; the NFL's spot at the top has never been safer. But since we're all leaning in, here are the 5 most intriguing matchups for the Chiefs:
WEEK 5 vs. BUFFALO BILLS
On the surface, it’s hard to get more intriguing than last year’s AFC Championship game. In a rematch of last year’s 38-24 win, the last of Kansas City’s season, fans will (ideally) get treated to anywhere between 700-900 total passing yards. Something to watch for? The Bills used their first two picks in the NFL Draft on defensive ends – Miami’s Gregory Rousseau (no. 30) and Wake Forrest’s Carlos Basham Jr. (no. 61). Will a totally revamped Chiefs offensive line struggle against one of the league’s best and most aggressive defenses? Can’t go worse than the Super Bowl! [ducks].
WEEK 1 vs. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Week 1 always comes with natural intrigue, but it certainly helps that the Chiefs get the Browns right away. It feels weird to write about how Chiefs-Browns is a juicy early-season matchup, but here we are. It’s the first of two playoff rematches the Chiefs will have this year (Buffalo being the other) and the Browns will absolutely have last January’s 22-17 loss fresh on their mind. This is a 4:15 game, because apparently the NFL thought it was imperative that a national audience watch Andy Dalton play his first of four games for the Chicago Bears. Mahomes vs. Mayfield (which even SOUNDS like a heavyweight title bout) will just have to be viewed on RedZone while you scramble to finish weekend chores in time to fall asleep at halftime of Sunday Night Football.
WEEK 2 @ BALTIMORE RAVENS
When you have Pat Mahomes, like half the schedule is an easily-marketed “QB SHOWDOWN!” But in this case, it’s actually true. You’ve got Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson, the Chiefs offense vs. a superb Baltimore defense, and Orlando Brown’s return to Baltimore. Even the jerseys look great contrasted against each other. KC will get a good look at Ravens’ rookie wide receiver Rashod Bateman, a guy who many a mock draft had going to the Chiefs before they traded away their first round pick … to Baltimore. They’ll also get a look at rookie linebacker Jayson Oweh – a player many considered the most athletically gifted linebacker in this year’s class – who Baltimore took with said pick.
WEEK 15 @ LA CHARGERS
For whatever reason, the Chargers seem to give Mahomes and the Chiefs (relative) fits. Of all AFC West teams, Mahomes has the least amount of wins (4), worst QB rating (97.5), and lowest completion percentage (61%) against LA. To be clear, those are all still great numbers – they’re just not *quite* the Mahomsian production that Chiefs fans are already accustomed to. Last year, against Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert, the Chiefs needed OT to beat LA on the road in Week 2, and then lost in a blowout that featured a whole bunch of Chad Henne. There’s a good argument to be made that the Chargers are the Chiefs’ toughest competition in the AFC West, unless …
WEEKS 13 & 18 vs. DENVER BRONCOS
… Aaron Rodgers happens to find himself in Denver this offseason. The two sides have been heavily rumored to have eyes for one another, and getting Rodgers vs. Mahomes twice a year would be truly insane in all the best ways. There’s a good chance this prediction looks pretty terrible when, in 6 months, the Chiefs easily handle Drew Lock and an underperforming 8-9 Broncos team, but if a trade gets pulled off, this automatically becomes the must-see matchup in football.
