Despite facing, what a appears to be, a rather daunting schedule in 2019, the Chiefs have 6-1 Vegas odds to win the SuperBowl. It stands to reason, of course, as the team is coming off its third consecutive AFC West title, a trip to the AFC Championship game and possess the reigning NFL MVP in Patrick Mahomes.
For the fourth consecutive season, the Chiefs will face a first-place schedule. They will face off against against fellow AFC division winners Baltimore and New England while also playing the AFC South and NFL North divisions. The expectations to reach the SuperBowl for the first time since 1970 are at an all-time high. Patrick Mahomes continues to be the talk of the league and offensive weapons Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins all return to an offense that never scored less than 26 points a season ago. Can this team improve while navigating a difficult schedule?
Schedule Breakdown
Week 1 @ Jacksonville
Despite appearing in the AFC Championship back in 2018, the Jaguars seem to be a team still in transition. Gone is embattled quarterback Blake Bortles and in is Nick Foles. We’ve seen that Doug Marrone can coach and the Jags roster has enough depth and talent to win this game. The Chiefs hammered Jacksonville in Kansas City last season and a trip to TIAA Bank Field is not exactly daunting. The Chiefs get the win here even if Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is not solidified out of the gate.
Prediction: Chiefs 31 Jaguars 21
Week 2 Chiefs @ Raiders
For the second consecutive season, the Chiefs’ schedule begins with two road games. The good news is, 2019 does not begin with the Chargers or Steelers. KC heads to Oakland for the final time and will face a team still trying to establish an identity under Jon Gruden. The Raiders loaded up on young talent via the draft and signed high-profile free agent Antonio Brown, but is this team ready to inch back towards being a .500 squad? That remains to be seen, but Reid’s record against the Raiders has been exemplary while in Kansas City (10-2) and the Chiefs have way too much fire power in this game.
Prediction: (W) Chiefs 30 Raiders 13
Week 3 Chiefs vs. Ravens
The Chiefs finally come home on September 22nd and will play the defending AFC North champions. This was a win that KC was lucky to notch last season as quarterback Lamar Jackson and a 1970’s running game gave them fits. Excitement may have cooled on Jackson and the offense after a horrendous performance against the Chargers in the playoffs, although we know the Ravens will still boast a nasty defense. This is a game the Chiefs may find themselves fighting for until the end, but are likely to prevail in amidst a hostile home crowd.
Prediction: (W) Chiefs 24 Ravens 21
Week 4 Chiefs @ Lions
Second year head coach Matt Patricia is still trying to figure things out in Detroit. This is a franchise that has not won a playoff game since 1991 and are coming off yet another last place divisional finish. This is not to say the Lions can’t be a dangerous team, however, as they did knock off eventual SuperBowl champs New England at home in 2018. This seems like one of those games where the Chiefs defense may struggle against strong-armed quarterback Matthew Stafford, however will the Lions be able to match the Chiefs blow for blow? The answer is no and the Chiefs emerge from the Motor City 4-0 with a difficult portion of the schedule looming.
Prediction: (W) Chiefs 37 Lions 21
Week 5 Chiefs vs. Colts
Proceeding these two teams meeting in the divisional playoff round last December, the perception seemed to be that the Colts would emerge victorious. That was proven to be merely a charade as the Chiefs hammered Indy 31-10. Andrew Luck is certainly back and the Colts young, talented roster is emerging. The Colts only beat one playoff team a year ago and Luck has already shown he can’t outgun Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium.
Prediction: (W) Chiefs 38 Colts 31
Week 6 Chiefs Vs. Texans
Another week and another home game against a playoff team from the AFC South. Was the Texans 2018 season merely smoke and mirrors against a terrible schedule or is this team ready to compete at the highest level? That’s a question that may be answered by week 6 as the Texans will have to take on the Rams, Chargers and Saints before coming to Kansas City. We know Deshaun Watson is an emerging star and that DeAndre Hopkins is a problem for anyone, but are they up to the task of staying with a Chiefs team that could be 5-0 at this point? The Chiefs take care of business here as the Texans’ season could be spiraling out of control at this point.
Prediction: (W) Chiefs 27 Texans 20
Week 7 Chiefs @ Broncos
The Chiefs needed a left-handed pass from Patrick Mahomes to help beat Denver a year ago at Invesco Field. The addition of Joe Flacco at QB makes Denver, at the very least, a viable threat in the AFC West. The Broncos should still be treading water at this point in the season and it will be a quick turnaround for both teams. The Chiefs have endured their fair amount of struggles with these Thursday games and may find themselves ripe for the picking against a Denver team thirsty for a win over KC (something that has not happened since 2015). Denver gets the upset here as the Chiefs fall to 6-1.
Prediction: (L) Broncos 26 Chiefs 23
Week 8 Chiefs vs. Packers
The Packers are a team with many questions heading in to 2019. Will new head coach Matt LaFleur be able to right the ship or has the sun set on Aaron Rodgers bid for a second SuperBowl? The Chiefs will be coming back home after an extended break and should be up to the task of a potential shoot out here. The country will be watching as Rodgers and Mahomes square off for the first time and the edge has to go to KC given the question marks swirling around Green Bay. This has all the makings of a classic Sunday Night Football showdown but expect the Chiefs to come out on top.
Prediction: (W) Chiefs 41 Packers 34
Week 9 Chiefs vs. Vikings
The Kirk Cousins experiment in Minnesota has been shotty at best after a year. The Vikings underachieved in 2018, but finished 2nd in the NFC North and could be a factor once again. The Chiefs should have their sights set on a division title and home field advantage at this point and should be able to score just enough on the vaunted Vikings defense. This could be one of those games where a re-vamped Chiefs pass-rush comes up with some big plays to keep it from ever being close
Prediction: (W) Chiefs 28 Vikings 10
Week 10 Chiefs @ Titans
This could be a tricky road game for the Chiefs. The Titans schedule is manageable to this point in the season and we’ve seen Marcus Mariota work his magic before. Running back Derrick Henry is banged up heading in to the 2019 season and the Titans skilled position depth is questionable. This could be another game in which the Chiefs have to pull away late to secure victory but they go to 9-1 inevitably.
Prediction: (W) Chiefs 27 Titans 21
Week 11 Chiefs @ Chargers (Mexico City)
We tried this last year…Didn’t work. For the sake of argument, we will say that this game is going to happen and will be played at Estadio Azteca as planned. The Chargers are certainly a real threat to unseat the Chiefs in the AFC West this season and they’ve proven they can beat KC. This will likely be one of those crazy back and forth shootouts on a bad field and in a strange atmosphere. The Chargers prove they are for real here as they hand the Chiefs their second loss of the season as the playoff picture becoms clouded.
Prediction: (L) Chargers 38 Chiefs 37
Week 13 Chiefs vs. Raiders
Coming off of a loss and a bye the Chiefs will welcome the Raiders back to Arrowhead- a team that has not won there since 2012. Will the Raiders have anything left at this point to even stay competitive? With home field advantage and the AFC West within grasp, the Chiefs send the Raiders home with one final pounding before the franchise moves on to Las Vegas.
Prediction: (W) Chiefs 40 Raiders 20
Week 14 Chiefs @ Patriots
This begins a dicey part of the schedule for the Chiefs. Everyone is excited for Mahomes/Brady III after the two jaw-dropping encounters in 2018. KC has to go to New England here with the winner very likely to procure the 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. It typically comes down to time management and game planning and no one does it better than the Patriots. The Chiefs lose a heartbreaker here as New England gains control of home field advantage with a last-second field goal as time expires.
Predictions: (L) Patriots 41 Chiefs 38
Week 15 Chiefs vs. Broncos
Looking to exact revenge for the loss earlier in the season, the Chiefs once again rebound and win big. Perhaps Denver remains a factor in the Wildcard race for part of the season, but they are now on their way to another 8-8 type situation. We may even see rookie quarterback and KC native Drew Lock start here, which would be an added bonus. The Chiefs dominate this one from bell to bell and get back in the win column decisively.
Predictions: (W) Chiefs 34 Broncos 14
Week 16 Chiefs @ Bears
Surprise, another Sunday night game as Andy Reid takes on former protege Matt Nagy. The Bears proved a lot last season by winning the NFC North before bowing out to to the Eagles in the playoffs. This will be a frigid cold December game at Soldier Field against a killer defense and an improving quarterback. The Chiefs will likely need this game to gain home field advantage, but it’s just not in the cards as the Bears slow the Chiefs down just enough
Predictions: (L) Bears 26 Chiefs 21
Week 17 Chiefs vs. Chargers
The AFC West crown could be decided within the freezing confines of Arrowhead Stadium on this day. Andy Reid’s record within the division since 2013 is staggering and a third straight loss to the Chargers seems inconceivable. The Chiefs take control of this game in the 3rd quarter and stave off a Charger rally to win the division for the fourth consecutive year.
