We all know the opponents the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs will face through the 2026 common season, and except for the ever hated division rivalries just like the Denver Prostrated Peyton’s Broncos and the Las Vegas Brady Simps Raiders (we additionally play the Los Angeles Chargers twice, for those who care about that form of factor), the Chiefs face off in opposition to all the same old suspects with regards to rivals outdoors of the AFC West.
Whenever you take a look at the listing of unscheduled foes, it’s like studying a rundown of a Chiefs fan’s least favourite groups within the NFL: the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Payments, San Francisco 49ers, and New England Patriots.
Along with this, Kansas Metropolis can even play the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks — a former division rival within the AFC West, as soon as upon a time — and the Los Angeles Rams, who at all times make for a enjoyable sport in primetime in opposition to the Chiefs.
Together with the remaining groups on the docket for Kansas Metropolis this season, which of the matchups will we wish to see in primetime?
We already know a matchup between the Chiefs and Broncos will likely be performed on “Monday Night Football” to open the season, leaving as much as 5 extra potentialities for Kansas Metropolis to be scheduled for a nationally televised, standalone night sport.
What number of Chiefs primetime video games does the NFL schedule in 2026?
The utmost is 6 (initially, earlier than in-season flexing)
BONUS: Tell us within the feedback which Arrowhead video games you wish to see at evening this yr
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In my view, the Chiefs may see anyplace from 4 to 6 primetime video games in 2026, and as a result of uncertainty of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ knee, I may see the NFL backloading the group’s schedule with primetime video games a bit, to provide themselves the perfect risk of avoiding video games with backup signal-caller Justin Fields main the Chiefs onto the sector.
So as of pleasure, listed below are the top-5 2026 matchups to need in primetime:
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 23: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs stiff arms Quinton Jefferson #99 of the Seattle Seahawks through the fourth quarter of the sport at CenturyLink Subject on December 23, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Picture by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Pictures) Getty Pictures
The most important headline, except for enjoying because the defending champions, is that that is newly acquired working again Kenneth Walker III’s revenge sport in opposition to the group that drafted him.
The one problem is that the Seahawks spent the offseason shedding greater than the group gained: except for letting Walker depart through free company, Seattle additionally misplaced edge rusher Boye Mafe, security Coby Bryant, and cornerback Riq Woolen.
The group did add some fascinating items, like working again Jadarian Worth within the first spherical of the NFL Draft, however it’s not sufficient to make you imagine this Seattle group has it in them to catch lightning in a bottle twice.
If the NFL desires to provide the Chiefs a prime-time sport earlier of their schedule, this could be contender, for the reason that Walker revenge-game angle may cowl for Mahomes if he’s not prepared to start out the season.
Soccer: Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Travis Kelce (87) in motion vs Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles, CA 11/19/2018 CREDIT: Kohjiro Kinno (Picture by Kohjiro Kinno /Sports activities Illustrated through Getty Pictures) (Set Quantity: X162332 TK1 )
A matchup between arguably the NFL’s two finest head coaches — Sean McVay and Andy Reid — is sufficient to make this sport worthy of primetime tv.
If you happen to add within the risk that if Mahomes may miss a while, this is able to be a wild sport for him to return for. Place this sport on “Thursday Night Football,“ following an early bye week, and you have the return of Mahomes facing off against what might be Rams quarterback Matt Stafford’s last season.
That makes for a very compelling football game, even if it will be hard to top the last time these franchises matched up in primetime; the 54-51 2018 game was on “Monday Night Football.”
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 10: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders is sacked by Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs through the 2nd quarter of the sport at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2022 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. Jones was referred to as for a penalty for roughing the passer. (Picture by David Eulitt/Getty Pictures) Getty Pictures
Very similar to the annual Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys, I imagine the long-time AFC West rivalry between the Chiefs and Raiders ought to at all times be a staple in primetime. Even when the Raiders have been a practice wreck for the higher a part of three a long time, it’s at all times enjoyable to look at the simplest group to hate within the league flounder in entrance of tens of millions of viewers throughout the nation.
As well as, it is going to be compelling to see how briskly the Raiders pull the plug on veteran Kirk Cousins because the beginning quarterback, then damage golden boy and first total choose, quarterback Fernando Mendoza, earlier than giving the reins again to a disgruntled Cousins; all of the whereas the offense is handing the ball off 40 instances a sport as a result of neither passer has anyone to throw the ball confidently to outdoors of a gifted however typically injured tight finish, Brock Bowers.
KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 29: Tamba Hali #91 of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs knocks the ball free from Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots for a fumble through the third quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on September 29, 2014 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (Picture by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Pictures) Getty Pictures
The one goal of the evolving storyline surrounding Patriots’ head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL insider Diana Russini, for me, has been to make New England simply as unlikable because the franchise has ever been.
And the extra unlikable a group is, the extra enjoyable it’s to root in opposition to them.
The unlucky reality is that the Patriots have a younger and gifted core, led by one of many sport’s fastest-rising stars, quarterback Drake Maye, and the NFL loves quarterback duels. The Patriots fortified the offensive line by drafting sort out Caleb Lomu within the first spherical, and improved the group’s go rush by taking heavy-handed defensive lineman Gabe Jacas within the second spherical.
This sport has all the weather to be a extremely battle to look at on an enormous stage.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 02: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs throws through the third quarter within the sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments at Highmark Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Picture by Jason Miller/Getty Pictures) Getty Pictures
Like Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame quarterbacks John Elway and Joe Montana, legendary boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, this matchup will proceed to be one of many sports activities universe’s greatest recurring matchups yearly so long as the sport’s two greatest names (Mahomes and Payments quarterback Josh Allen) proceed to captain their groups.
At this level, we’ve got sufficient empirical knowledge to know that this sport goes to be worrying and a tense affair to look at. It at all times looks like a heavyweight battle when these two franchises face off. The unknown variable is Buffalo’s new head coach, Joe Brady. How will the change in management away from longtime coach Sean McDermott have an effect on the group’s success?
I assume we’ll simply have to attend and see, and we are going to, hopefully on a nationally-televised broadcast.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Bengals, 49ers and the second matchup with Denver.
