KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs go from a team trying to get over the hump to a measuring stick for every opponent on their schedule.
For the Chiefs to run it back in 2020, they will need tremendous health, the same mental toughness they displayed last season and some breaks to go their way. The fact we even able to watch football at this point is a tremendous credit to the league, front offices, players and coaches for the protocols they put into place.
Here is how I think the Chiefs season will go if they catch all the right breaks.
Week 1: vs Houston Texans
The Chiefs showcase their new offensive weapon in the backfield and give teams around the league pause for concern that the generational offense of 2018 might return in 2020.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: at Los Angeles Chargers
The loss of Philip Rivers will force the Chiefs defense to attack differently than the past decade. This might be a closer game than expected because of the uncertainties of how their offense will be tailored, but the Chiefs should be able to come away with a second victory, especially with three extra days of rest.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: at Baltimore Ravens
This is one of those games that everyone in the league likely has marked down. It is a big game matchup early in the season that should have playoff implications if both teams can remain healthy. The Ravens spent their offseason building this defense to counter the Chiefs and Titans. This is a game I could see the Chiefs losing the battle but gaining valuable intel to win the war in January.
Record: 2-1
Week 4: vs New England Patriots
The schedule rotation finally brings the Patriots back to Kansas City for their first regular-season game since the night before the Royals made their first World Series playoff run in 2014. The Patriots will likely have enough on tape for the Chiefs to get a good idea of what they are attempting to do.
Record: 3-1
Week 5: vs Las Vegas Raiders
The Chiefs will get a good dose of the Raiders' run game but Derek Carr is still the quarterback.
Record: 4-1
Week 6: at Buffalo Bills
Quarterback Josh Allen gets his opportunity to compete against Patrick Mahomes. The Bills' defense will be the star of this game on a short week. The Chiefs have struggled traveling to the coast on Thursday nights. Bills head coach Sean McDermott gets the best of his former boss Andy Reid.
Record: 4-2
Week 7: at Denver Broncos
Kansas City gets a long rest after their Thursday night game in Buffalo. The Broncos built their offense to compete with the Chiefs, but this team will likely still be coming together rather than firing on all cylinders. The loss of Von Miller might cause some frustration as well at this point in the season.
Record: 5-2
Week 8: vs New York Jets
The Chiefs can't overlook the Jets but the hot seat will likely be rather warm for Head Coach Adam Gase at this point.
Record: 6-2
Week 9: vs Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are in a rebuilding mode and there will be plenty of tape on what they have built to this point.
Record: 7-2
Week 10: BYE WEEK
Week 11: at Las Vegas Raiders
Kansas City comes off a week-long break refreshed at the ideal point in the season. They get a chance to assess what worked against the Raiders last time and double down against Derek Carr.
Record: 8-2
Week 12: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is another one of those games that will likely be marked around the league. The Chiefs hopefully get their first look at Tom Brady in a Buccaneers uniform. At this point, Brady should be comfortable in the offense and the Chiefs will get their best shot from this team. Luckily, Kansas City isn't coming off a bye week. So the rust should be knocked off in a close Chiefs victory.
Record: 9-2
Week 13: vs Denver Broncos
The Broncos will have shown growth throughout the season and their offense should start to be in sync at this point. The Chiefs will have already seen their best moves though and should have a good counter punch.
Record: 10-2
Week 14: at Miami Dolphins
This might be the portion of the season where Tua Tagovailoa has a couple starts under his belt. The Dolphins are still a long term rebuilding project though, that has two more years ahead of them before the results pay off.
Record: 11-2
Week 15: at New Orleans Saints
Back-to-back road trips in Miami and New Orleans will likely be taxing on the Chiefs. It will likely be one of Drew Brees' final games in the Superdome and he will want to get the best of Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champions. This is a game where the Chiefs stumble.
Record: 11-3
Week 16: vs Atlanta Falcons
Dan Quinn might not be the head coach at this point. The Falcons' window likely closed after the 2017 season.
Record 12-3
Week 17: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers should be starting rookie quarterback Justin Herbert at this point. This late-season game typically ends up with the Chiefs pulling away in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter.
Record: 13-3
AFC Playoff Predictions
1. Chiefs (13-3)
2. Ravens (12-4)
3. Colts (11-5)
4. Bills (10-6)
5. Steelers (11-5)
6. Patriots (9-7)
7. Titans (9-7)
NFC Playoff Predictions
1. Saints (13-3)
2. Seahawks (12-4)
3. Packers (11-5)
4. Cowboys (11-5)
5. 49ers (10-6)
6. Buccaneers (10-6)
7. Cardinals (9-7)
AFC Championship
Chiefs over Ravens
NFC Championship
Saints over Seahawks
Super Bowl
Chiefs over Saints
