KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs are going 16-0, right?
I mean, with Patrick Mahomes locked up for another 12 seasons, Kansas City won’t lose again until 2032 — and that’s only if he’s not re-signed, right?
Sadly, that might be wishful thinking.
But the Chiefs are a heavy favorite to repeat as Super Bowl champions, something that hasn’t happened in the NFL since the 2003-04 New England Patriots.
And Mahomes is the leading candidate by a wide margin to reclaim the MVP award, assuming he doesn’t miss (basically) three games like he did last year.
For those keeping score at home, I predicted the Chiefs would go 14-2 last year — not accounting, of course, for Mahomes’ injuries in the first two months of the season — so I was off by two games.
Anyway here’s a breakdown of the 2020 schedule and what to expect from the upcoming Chiefs’ season:
<h2>Sept. 10 vs. Houston Texans</h2>
Deshaun Watson and the Texans got the best of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs during a regular-season meeting last season, but Kansas City got revenge in playoffs. Mahomes and company make it two straight. Record: 1-0
<h2>Sept. 20 at Los Angeles Chargers</h2>
The Chiefs have owned the AFC West under Andy Reid. That won’t change with the Chargers entering the post-Philip Rivers era. Record: 2-0
<h2>Sept. 28 at Baltimore Ravens</h2>
The Ravens have come up short the last two seasons against the Chiefs in the regular season, but I think a motivated Lamar Jackson will find a way to win this one. Much like the Texans last year, Jackson won’t be as happy after a postseason rematch. Record: 2-1
<h2>Oct. 4 vs. New England</h2>
The Cam Newton era will be wrapping up its first month, but the Chiefs’ recent regular-season success against the Patriots won’t change. Record: 3-1
<h2>Oct. 11 vs. Las Vegas Raiders</h2>
Derek Carr vs. Patrick Mahomes — how is this even a question? Record: 4-1
<h2>Oct. 15 at Buffalo Bills</h2>
Four days after an important game against a division rival, the Chiefs must travel nearly 1,000 miles to Buffalo for a tussle with a very good Bills defense. The NFL set up Kansas City to fail in this one. Record 4-2
<h2>Oct. 25 at Denver Broncos</h2>
Before Von Miller’s injury, it was tempting to peg this as a Chiefs loss, but it’s hard to see that defense bottling up Kansas City’s offense enough without one of the league’s premier players. Record: 5-2
<h2>Nov. 1 vs. New York Jets</h2>
Sam Darnold will be a fine NFL quarterback. He’s not Patrick Mahomes, who goes scorched earth on a Jamal Adams-less Jets secondary. Record: 6-2
<h2>Nov. 8 vs. Carolina Panthers</h2>
New coach, new quarterback — no chance for Carolina. Record: 7-2
<h2>Nov. 22 at Las Vegas Raiders</h2>
This feels like a trap game. It’s around the holidays and a showdown with Tom Brady’s new team looms, but, well, it’s still the Raiders. Record: 8-2
<h2>Nov. 29 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers</h2>
Kansas City will get the first of two wins at Raymond James Stadium during the 2020 season, taking advantage of Brady’s lack of mobility to pull out a close victory. The next win will come in Super Bowl LV. Record: 9-2
<h2>Dec. 6 vs. Denver Broncos</h2>
Lee’s Summit native and Broncos QB Drew Lock has lots of weapons around him and an NFL arm, but I don’t think Denver is quite ready to go toe-to-toe with the Chiefs. Record: 10-2
<h2>Dec. 13 at Miami Dolphins</h2>
Hey, the 2019 Dolphins will always have a special place in Chiefs Kingdom for delivering a first-round bye with a stunning Week 17 win at New England last year. Maybe Tua Tagovailoa will be starting by now, providing a tantalizing QB matchup. Record: 11-2
<h2>Dec. 20 at New Orleans Saints</h2>
The Saints will take advantage of playing at home to win this Super Bowl LV preview, but Drew Brees and company will falter a few months later with the title on the line. Record: 11-3
<h2>Dec. 27 vs. Atlanta Falcons</h2>
Don’t sleep on this Falcons team, who could very well still be in playoff contention — especially with an extra postseason berth up for grabs in 2020 — when the teams meet a few days after Christmas. Still, give me Mahomes over Matt Ryan. Record: 12-3
<h2>Jan. 3 vs. Los Angeles Chargers</h2>
If the Chiefs need to win this game in the battle for the No. 1 overall seed — and only playoff bye available now — they will. If the race for the top spot is over, it will be a chance to get healthy as the #RunItBack Tour hits the stretch run. Record: 13-3
