KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The schedule is finally out for the 2020 NFL season, a day I routinely build futures week around.
In fact, I remember family members’ birthdays and big life events based off the Chiefs’ opponent during a given week most seasons.
For example, I broke my wrist the day the Chiefs played at the Patriots in Week 6 during the 2018 season.
Unfortunately, the Chiefs lost 43-40, but I made sure my surgery wasn't scheduled until after the game against the Bengals the following week.
Both games were on Sunday Night Football, and I couldn't miss primetime Chiefs.
With that here are my initial impressions of the schedule:
1. Savvy season opener
The NFL is hastening the transition to its next wave of star quarterbacks, highlighting the third meeting between Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs and Deshaun Watson’s Houston Texas in an 11-month span.
Marquee names like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers are on the backside of their careers.
Russell Wilson is the bridge quarterback to the next wave, which includes Mahomes and Watson along with Lamar Jackson.
The NFL made sure to match up Mahomes and Watson with everyone watching on opening night, especially during a time in history where the game could be a welcome distraction for many.
This matchup, which will air on 41 Action News at 7:20 p.m. on Sept. 10, helps the NFL start to build their next must see quarterback battle.
2. Another marquee matchup
The NFL also did ESPN a massive favor by giving the country Mahomes versus Jackson early in the season and on Monday Night Football.
Again, the NFL needs to start building the legacies of its young quarterbacks.
Mahomes winning an NFL MVP, Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl MVP all before he could rent a car at a reasonable price helps raise the attention of other quarterbacks.
Kansas City also gets the Ravens at an ideal time.
There won’t be a significant amount of tape on the Chiefs’ new offensive wrinkles only three weeks into the season.
The Chiefs’ defense is also expected to be better against the run in this rematch from the 2018 and 2019 seasons, a pair of one-score wins at Arrowhead for the home side.
3. A Thursday Night counter
Most teams benefit from playing Thursday night matchups at home.
The Chiefs will be coming off consecutive home games against the Patriots and Raiders before a Week 6 matchup on a Thursday night in the Buffalo Bills’ house.
Kansas City has had trouble on the road for Thursday night games under Andy Reid, losing two of those three games.
Overall, they are 3-4 with all four losses coming to AFC West opponents, although this will be only the second time they have played a non-divisional opponent.
The last time was when Reid returned to Philadelphia and the Chiefs beat the Eagles 26-16. This time around, Kansas City arguably faces one of the most physical defenses on their schedule.
4. Early conference tests
Kansas City will face all three of the other AFC division winners within the first four games.
It starts with the reigning AFC South champion Texans in Week 1, continues on the road in Week 3 at the AFC North champion Ravens and concludes a week later at home against the perennial AFC East champion Patriots.
Fans will be able to find out quickly where the Chiefs’ roster stands against some quality playoff-caliber opponents.
5. Perfectly placed bye week
The sweet spot for NFL teams to get a bye week is near Thanksgiving.
This season the Chiefs will get their break during Week 10, which is right in the middle of season before they hopefully make a playoff push in the final seven games.
Last year, it came in Week 12 and with a banged up Chiefs squad having lost four of its previous seven games.
After the bye, Kansas City never lost again — all the way through Miami and Super Bowl LIV.
6. Primetime surprise
The primetime games were a bit of a surprise for Kansas City.
The Texans, Ravens and Bills games — playoff teams from 2019 — all make sense, but the Raiders and Broncos were a bit of a surprise, especially with the opportunity to feature the Falcons, Saints or Buccaneers against the Chiefs instead.
Kansas City is tied for a league-high five nationally televised games.
And don’t forget you can catch all the preseason games — at home against Cincinnati and Green Bay sandwiched around road trips to Arizona and Dallas — this fall on 41 Action News, the new Home of the Chiefs.
—
Are you a Chiefs fan? Subscribe to and rate the “4th & 1” podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or your preferred podcast platform for even more content from the Home of the Chiefs, 41 Action News.
You can also follow "4th & 1" co-hosts Nick Jacobs and Tod Palmer on Twitter along with the “4th & 1” podcast.
