Takeaways from the Chiefs’ 2020 regular-season schedule
The Chiefs officially have dates and times set in stone with the release of the 2020 regular-season schedule Thursday night.
Of course, a lot can happen between now and then — the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is still playing out — but for now there’s some football in the air.
Here are some takeaways from the Chiefs’ schedule.
SEASON OPENER
The Chiefs open the 2020 regular season by hosting the Houston Texans in a rematch of last year’s AFC Divisional contest, which saw the Chiefs overcome a 24-0 deficit before defeating the Texans 51-31.
The Chiefs get to rub in the stinging loss, too: Kansas City will celebrate its Super Bowl LIV victory that night by hoisting a championship banner at Arrowhead Stadium.
Meanwhile, this matchup might bring about mixed feelings for Chiefs offensive-line coach Andy Heck, whose son, Charlie, was drafted by the Texans in the fourth round of last month’s NFL Draft.
LINING UP EARLY
The Super Bowl-winning Chiefs are on a mission to repeat, but the early part of their schedule is tough.
Three of their first four opponents made the postseason last year as divisional winners and combined for a 36-12: Texans, Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots.
The Chiefs shouldn’t be fazed. While they lost to the Texans in the regular season, they rebounded by knocking Houston out of the postseason and notched regular-season wins over the Ravens and Patriots last year.
PRIME-TIME ON THE GO
The Chiefs are showcased on prime-time five times in 2020, but three of those nationally televised contests are on the road: Week 3 against the Ravens on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, which airs on the NFL Network and FOX, and Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Their remaining two prime-time games will be played at Arrowhead Stadium: the season opener against the Texans on NBC and Week 13 against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.
FIRST-HALF ROAD WARRIORS
Two of the Chiefs’ first three games are on the road, with matchups against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 and a trip to Baltimore in Week 3.
The Chiefs then host two straight games at Arrowhead Stadium in Weeks 4-5, against the Patriots and Raiders, before going on the road again in Weeks 6-7 to face the Bills and Broncos.
The team’s bye week arrives in Week 10 after two homes games against the New York Jets in Week 8 and Carolina Panthers in Week 9.
PASSING OF THE TORCH
The Patriots ruled supreme in the NFL until last season, when the Chiefs broke through in Week 14 with a 23-16 win at Gillette Stadium.
New England never recovered its swagger and suffered a stunning 27-24 loss to the Miami Dolphins in the Pats’ season finale, which allowed the Chiefs to seize the No. 2 seed and all-important bye in the first round of the postseason.
With quarterback Tom Brady now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this year’s Week 4 meeting should be a mere formality, and serve as a reminder that there’s a new sheriff in the AFC.
The Chiefs square off against Brady and the Bucs in Week 12 at Raymond James Stadium.
SUPER PREVIEW?
If the season goes as projected, the NFL has a good one set up in Week 15 with a showdown between the Chiefs and New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The Chiefs and Saints were previously on a collision course to potentially meet in Super Bowl LIII before questionable officiating in both conference championship games ended their respective seasons. Fast-forward two seasons and both teams are once again heavy favorites to reach the Super Bowl.
This matchup could provide a preview of what’s to come, and so much more.
Offensive guru Andy Reid against Sean Payton? Patrick Mahomes vs. Drew Brees? Safety Tyrann Mathieu, a New Orleans native, leading the Chiefs’ defense against wide receivers Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders and running back Alvin Kamara? Wide receiver Tyreek Hill against cornerback Marshon Lattimore? Tight end Travis Kelce against linebacker Demario Davis? A contest featuring two of the best right tackles in the entire NFL with All-Pros Mitchell Schwartz and Ryan Ramczyk?
Pass the popcorn, please.
WARM DECEMBER
After playing road games in chilly New England and Chicago in December 2019, the Chiefs rebound with back-to-back trips to warm venues in Miami and New Orleans.
The Chiefs return to Hard Rock Stadium, the scene of their triumph in Super Bowl LIV, to face the Dolphins in Week 14, and then treat themselves to Cajun cuisine in Week 15.
The mini-break in warm climates should be welcomed when considering the Chiefs close out the season with two straight home games in late-December Midwest weather against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 and Chargers in Week 17.
Chiefs’ 2020 schedule
Date, opponent, kickoff time (CT), TV
Sept. 10 (Thursday): Houston Texans, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Sept. 20: at Los Angeles Chargers, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Sept. 28 (Monday): at Baltimore Ravens, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 4: New England Patriots, 3:25 p.m, CBS
Oct. 11: Las Vegas Raiders, noon, CBS
Oct. 15 (Thursday): at Buffalo Bills, 7:20 p.m., Fox/NFLN
Oct. 25: at Denver Broncos, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Nov. 1: New York Jets, noon, CBS
Nov. 8: Carolina Panthers, noon, Fox
Bye
Nov. 22: at Las Vegas Raiders, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Nov. 29: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Dec. 6: Denver Broncos, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Dec. 13: at Miami Dolphins, noon, CBS
Dec. 20: at New Orleans Saints, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Dec. 27: Atlanta Falcons, noon, Fox
Jan. 3: Los Angeles Chargers, noon, CBS
This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 8:15 PM with the headline "Takeaways from the Chiefs’ 2020 regular-season schedule."
