Chiefs 2026 Schedule With Game-By-Game Predictions: The NFL does Kansas City no favors in the quest for Super Bowl LXI
The 2026 NFL schedule has officially been revealed. How could it turn out for the Kansas City Chiefs? Let’s go through our game-by-game predictions.
The Kansas City Chiefs‘ 2026 NFL schedule has been officially revealed.
We now know exactly when the Chiefs will play their opponents in 2026. This might be a third-place finish schedule, but it presents unique challenges. How could things play out for the Chiefs if they’re to make it back to the playoffs and make a run at Super Bowl LXI? The path is never easy, and this year is no different.
Here are some quick-hitting, way-too-early game-by-game score predictions for the upcoming season.
Kansas City Chiefs’ 2026 NFL Schedule With Predictions:
Week 1: vs. Denver Broncos (Monday Night Football) at Arrowhead Stadium – Sept. 14, at 7:15 p.m. CT on ESPN/ABC
This game is tough to predict because there are a ton of variables surrounding the quarterbacks for both teams. Patrick Mahomes is coming off a season-ending knee injury, and Bo Nix is coming off an ankle injury that ended his postseason early. I feel like the Chiefs have a monkey to get off their back after the worst season of the Andy Reid era, and they’re going to come out swinging with the best stuff regardless. Give me a tight win over the Broncos at home.
Chiefs win 31-28
Week 2: vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sunday Night Football) at Arrowhead Stadium – Sept. 20 at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC
Back-to-back primetime games seem like a lot for Kansas City, but this actually might be the exact test they need to start fast. If anyone other than Daniel Jones is starting for the Colts, I suspect that this is the type of game that will work out in the Chiefs’ favor. Even with a bunch of new pieces on defense, Steve Spagnuolo typically can frustrate young backup quarterbacks with scheme decisions.
Chiefs win 28-17
Week 3: @ Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium
The Dolphins feel a bit like a trap game under with Malik Willis at QB and a new head coach, Jeff Hafley. I think the Chiefs’ offense should be able to outscore their defense, especially with some big question marks in the Miami defensive secondary remaining. I anticipate it’ll take a few games for the new pieces on defense to truly gel in Kansas City, and this one could come down to the wire because of that.
Chiefs win: 34-31
Week 4: @ Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium – Oct. 4 at 3:25 p.m. CT on Broadcast/Network platform
Whether Fernando Mendoza or Kirk Cousins is the starter for Las Vegas, I suspect that this will be one of the closest games the Chiefs have played in Allegiant Stadium. Times are changing for the Raiders. While they still have a lot of work to do to close the gap, I think their offensive skill talent is enough to make some noise. K.C. will try to run a ball-control offense to keep them off the field.
Chiefs win 23-17
Week 5: BYE
This is the earliest possible bye week and the earliest bye week of the Patrick Mahomes era. On one hand, it’ll be a good breather for No. 15 should he be ready to start the season. On the other hand, it sets up Kansas City for a brutal 11-game marathon to finish the season.
Week 6: vs. Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium – Oct. 18 at 3:25 p.m. CT on
The addition of former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel should add some flair and creativity to the Chargers’ offense. Still, this feels like a game that is won or lost in the trenches. Looking at the Chargers’ interior offensive line, I’m giving the Chiefs the slight edge at home.
Chiefs win 27-24
Week 7: @ Seattle Seahawks (Sunday Night Football) at Lumen Field – Oct. 25 at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC
The Kenneth Walker revenge game. While things seem fairly copacetic here, I suspect that Walker has some feelings on the Seahawks not retaining him after he won Super Bowl LX MVP. The Chiefs also have a lot to gain by defeating the reigning Super Bowl champions at their home stadium.
Chiefs win 41-31
Week 8: @ Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High – Sunday, Nov. 1 at 3:25 p.m. CT on Broadcast/Network platform
I think the Chiefs split games with the Broncos this year. Each team has a substantial home-field advantage. This feels like a logical point for some cracks to begin to show for Kansas City. A lackluster showing in all phases results in a home win for Denver.
Broncos win 24-17
Week 9: vs. New York Jets at Arrowhead Stadium
I expect the Jets to be better in Year 2 under Aaron Glenn, but I don’t think they’ve made the type of roster progress necessary to win this game. The biggest thing: I don’t know if Geno Smith can be a good interim quarterback for the New York Jets. It feels like he needs the best possible situation surrounding him (see his Seahawks tenure) to be successful.
Chiefs win 35-13
Week 10: @ Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The Chiefs have one head-scratching loss every year, and I think this year’s is against the Atlanta Falcons. Michael Penix Jr. should be back by this point in the season. Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London are a force in offensive skill. Their defense has quietly improved this offseason, and they’ve found themselves a fine head coach in Kevin Stefanski.
Falcons win 28-27
Week 11: vs. Arizona Cardinals at Arrowhead Stadium
The Cardinals feel like they’re still a quarterback away from being a competitive team. Jacoby Brissett has a new star running back in Jeremiyah Love, who will be the focal point of the offense.
Chiefs win 31-17
Week 12: @ Buffalo Bills (Thanksgiving) at Highmark Stadium – Thursday, Nov. 26 at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC
This begins a five-game stretch that could really determine the Chiefs’ season. This game always seems to mean more to the Bills during the regular season for whatever reason. I suspect that will remain the same with a new head coach in Joe Brady, looking to prove himself against a bitter rival. The Chiefs will keep it close, given a national audience on a major holiday, but I think they fall just short against Buffalo at home. It’ll set up for a great postseason rematch.
Bills win 27-20
Week 13: @ Los Angeles Rams (Thursday Night Football) at SoFi Stadium – Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7:15 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime Video
I don’t expect many back-to-back losses for the Chiefs, but this feels like a stretch where it could happen. These two teams always seem to deliver a tough and close game. The Rams feel like they’re going all-in this year. It’s going to have big meaning for a pair of former Chiefs players, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. I think it probably ends on a pass broken up or picked off by one of those players.
Rams win 37-33
Week 14: @ Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium – Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4:25 p.m. CT on Broadcast/Network platform
Another AFC rivalry game for Kansas City. I think the NFL scheduling this so late in the season is a major risk. Joe Burrow has become somewhat injury-prone. Patrick Mahomes obviously had the late-season injury last year. By this point in the season, both teams could be missing key players and star power. Still, I think it results in a close contest with the Chiefs upsetting the Bengals on the road.
Chiefs win 28-22
Week 15: vs. New England Patriots (Monday Night Football) at Arrowhead Stadium – Monday, Dec. 21 at 7:15 p.m. CT on ESPN/ABC
Chiefs vs. Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night? I can’t help but think about the 2014 game, when a Tom Brady-led squad got curb-stomped in front of a national audience. People were thinking Brady was done (he was not), but I feel like this game could have the same type of impact, not for Drake Maye, but instead for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. Expectations are sky high after a Super Bowl appearance, and this offseason hasn’t been very smooth because of his scandal with Dianna Russini. Will that bleed onto the field in the season? We’ll find out.
Chiefs win 41-28
Week 16: vs. San Francisco 49ers at Arrowhead Stadium – Sunday, Dec. 27 at 3:25 p.m. CT on Broadcast/Network platform
The Chiefs have won their last five consecutive games against the 49ers, including Super Bowl LIV and LVIII. Basically, Andy Reid has Kyle Shanahan’s number. I feel like the 49ers’ roster has undergone some similar talent drain to Kansas City, but I think there’s a pretty stark difference in how the two clubs have gone about replacing that talent. That’ll be apparent in Week 16.
Chiefs win 51-21
Week 17: @ Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium
I suspect the AFC West will be a very tight race this year. It could come down to tiebreakers, but I don’t think it’ll be head-to-head records. After a close win for Kansas City in Week 6, I think the Chargers return the favor at home in Week 17. It sets up for an interesting finish in Week 18.
Chargers win 24-23
Week 18: vs. Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium
If the Raiders stay true to their quarterback plans, it’s possible that this could be Fernando Mendoza’s NFL debut. Stumbling the week prior sets Kansas City up for a meaningful game against a bitter rival. This completes a five-game stretch in which the defense has held opponents to fewer than 30 points.
Chiefs win 24-20
Chiefs’ Final record: 12-5
The NFL isn’t doing Kansas City any favors with the obscenely early bye week, but I think this schedule is manageable for a bounce-back year. A 12-5 record should be good enough to win the AFC West under the right circumstances. The question will be what happens to this team if they don’t secure the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye? Can they play 14 consecutive games, including three win-or-go-home contests, to stamp their ticket to Super Bowl LXI?