NFL may have already made a mistake with the schedule after announcing who the Kansas City Chiefs will play Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Season
The Kansas City Chiefs are set to play the Denver Broncos in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Season, but the location is not yet set.
The Kansas City Chiefs are still one of the most coveted franchises in the NFL, despite having a pretty bad year last season. Everyone wants to see them on TV, whether it’s watching them win as a fan of the team or watching them lose as a hater.
Last year, the latter happened more. This season, we could see the Chiefs bounce back in a big way. They have made significant roster changes, but they have also lost many key players. There are many question marks surrounding this team and its roster, including whether they will be on the field in Week 1. If he is, his first game, right from the get-go, will be a prime-time game.
“You always wonder how you’re going to start the season,” ESPN Play by Play Analyst Joe Buck said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “And our answer is a game between Denver and Kansas City. We do not know the location. That’s kind of the crazy part. It points out the fact that this schedule release is fluid up until Thursday. … It’s a great matchup in the AFC West. Hopeful within that matchup we get Mahomes and Nix, which makes it that much better.”
This could be a huge game, especially if both QBs play. But it could also turn out to be a stinker and the NFL’s first scheduling mistake.
NFL is banking on Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix to play Week 1
Mahomes tore his ACL near the end of last season. He’s been going hard in his recovery, and there is reason to believe he will be available Week 1. Bo Nix broke his foot in the postseason last year, and maybe some think he will be available as well. If they’re both playing against one another, it could be a classic AFC West rivalry game.
Updates on Mahomes’ rehab have been cautious. The team praises his effort but gives few details. Even Chiefs HC Andy Reid, speaking about Mahomes’ potential return for OTAs, was careful. Mahomes is in a good spot, but the team might keep PUP list options open.
If neither of those guys is playing, we could see Justin Fields and Jarrett Stidham face off. That’s just not as appealing as the matchup we all think we’re going to get. If that happens, it could be an ESPN mistake, as the ratings for a Week 1 matchup would surely plummet.