While many thought the balance of power was shifting in the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs showed they remain the class of not just the AFC but the NFL. The Super Bowl champions are ready to defend their title but first must navigate a tricky 2023 schedule.
Kansas City Chiefs Schedule and Opponents
While we won’t find out the complete Chiefs’ 2023 schedule until the official NFL schedule release on Thursday, we already know they will face the Miami Dolphins in Germany. The NFL has also released their Christmas Day schedule, which will showcase a triple-header. One of those three games will be between the Chiefs and the Raiders. We also know their full list of opponents for the upcoming season.
- Week 1: vs. Lions
NBC | 8:20 p.m. ET (Thursday, Sept. 7) - Week 9: vs. Dolphins (Frankfurt)
NFL Network | 9:30 a.m. ET (Sunday, Nov. 5) - Week 16: vs. Raiders
Nickelodeon and CBS | 1:00 p.m. ET (Monday, Dec. 25) - Week 17: vs. Bengals
CBS | 4:25 p.m. ET (Sunday, Dec. 31)
Home Games
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins (in Germany)
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Philadelphia Eagles
Away Games
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Jacksonville Jaguars
As always, the Chiefs will face their division opponents both at home and on the road. As part of the rotational schedule, Kansas City and the AFC West will take on the entirety of the NFC North and AFC East.
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The remaining three games on their schedule will come against the remaining two AFC teams that finished first in their division, as well as their “17th-game crossover” against the Philadelphia Eagles in a highly anticipated Super Bowl LVII rematch.
Kansas City Chiefs Strength of Schedule
The Chiefs and the AFC West, in general, have a rather difficult schedule in 2023. Based on projected win totals, Kansas City has the third-hardest strength of schedule in the league. Their respective opponents combined to go 147-140-0 for a .512 record.
Of the four AFC West teams, Los Angeles has the sixth hardest, Denver is 11th, and Las Vegas holds the fourth-toughest schedule in the league in 2023.
When looking at PFN’s Strength of Schedule, which takes more than just win totals into consideration, the Chiefs have the 14th hardest schedule. A lucky break for the Super Bowl champions.
Kansas City Chiefs Record Prediction
Do you remember this time last year when everyone was so eager to write off the Chiefs? Las Vegas was stockpiling players, Russell Wilson joined the Broncos, and the Chargers looked to have one the most complete rosters in the league.
Instead of falling off, what happened was your ho-hum, run-of-the-mill, 14-3 season capped off by a Super Bowl victory over the Eagles. It’s pretty simple. So long as Patrick Mahomes is stepping onto the field, Kansas City can win every game they show up for.
Kansas City certainly does not have a cakewalk schedule, as the better you play, the higher your level of competition, given the way the NFL structures the schedule. Yet, this is nothing new for Kansas City, who have won seven straight AFC West titles.
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However, some teams which would traditionally be more toward the bottom of the barrel are now playoff contenders, such as the New York Jets, who were able to complete their trade for Aaron Rodgers.
Since Andy Reid arrived in 2013, the Chiefs have only won fewer than 10 regular-season games on one occasion, and that’s not changing in 2023. I would expect Kansas City to be in the 12- to 13-win range, with the obvious upside for more.
They are the defending Super Bowl champions and favorites to win the AFC. However, playing all three teams they knocked out of the playoffs will certainly test the battle-hardened roster. Luckily two of those (Cincinnati and Philadelphia) are at home.
Plus, they added key players in the draft like EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, SMU WR Rashee Rice, and Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris. While they will get every team’s best, the Chiefs are used to that by now and know how to win under the most difficult of circumstances.
