There’s a potential danger zone in the Kansas City Chiefs’ NFL schedule for 2026
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Starting on Thanksgiving, the Chiefs play six games versus five 2025 playoff teams.
- Patrick Mahomes is rehabbing torn ACL and LCL and could be ready by Sept. 14.
- Chiefs have six prime-time games and an early Week 5 bye, then 13 straight weeks.
A slow start would not be recommended for the Chiefs in 2026.
This fall’s schedule of games, released by the NFL on Thursday, has the Chiefs running through a gauntlet of opponents in the season’s second half.
Starting with a Thanksgiving night game at the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs play a stretch of six games against five teams that made the playoffs last season.
After Buffalo, the Chiefs play the following Thursday at the Los Angeles Rams in a Week 13 game, followed by a road game against the only non-playoff team KC will face: the Cincinnati Bengals.
The run continues with home games against the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers and then the Chiefs visit the Los Angeles Chargers.
A big question facing the Chiefs will be the availability of superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He is recovering from torn ACL and LCL knee ligaments, an injury suffered in a Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chiefs have suggested Mahomes is ahead of schedule in his recovery. If he’s healthy enough, he could be ready for the team’s opening game, a “Monday Night Football” encounter with the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14 in Kansas City.
The Chiefs will bask in prime-time the first two weeks, playing host to the Indianapolis Colts on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 2.
In all, the Chiefs have six games scheduled for prime-time, two each on Sunday, Monday and Thursday, as they look to rebound from a 6-11 record, their worst in the Andy Reid era. The Chiefs, who went 3-2 in Super Bowls from 2019 to 2024, missed the playoffs last year.
The Chiefs this coming season will have an early bye, in Week 5, which means they’ll play the final 13 weeks straight — finishing with a home game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Also, Kansas City will play two preseason games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead: the Rams on Aug. 15 at 3 p.m., and the Seahawks on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m., at home. They’ll play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for Chiefs home games go on sale Friday beginning at 11 a.m. Season-ticket members have an exclusive online pre-sale, starting at 10 a.m.
Jackson County taxpayers have a pre-sale opportunity at 8 a.m. This will take place online only and purchasers must have a credit card with a billing zip code within Jackson County.
Chiefs’ 2026 NFL schedule
Week 1: Denver Broncos, Sept. 14, MNF, 7:15 p.m. ABC/ESPN
Week 2: Indianapolis Colts, Sept. 20, SNF, 7:20 p.m. NBC
Week 3: at Miami Dolphins, Sept. 27, TBD
Week 4: at Las Vegas Raiders, Oct. 4, 3:25 p.m. CBS
Week 5: bye
Week 6: Los Angeles Chargers, Oct. 18, 3:25 p.m. CBS
Week 7: at Seattle Seahawks, Oct. 25, SNF, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Week 8: at Denver Broncos, Nov. 1, 3:25 p.m. CBS
Week 9: New York Jets, Nov. 8, noon, CBS
Week 10: at Atlanta Falcons, Nov. 15, CBS
Week 11: Arizona Cardinals, Nov. 22, noon, CBS
Week 12: at Buffalo Bills, Nov. 26, Thanksgiving, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Week 13: at Los Angeles Rams, Dec. 3, TNF, Amazon
Week 14: at Cincinnati Bengals, Dec. 13, 3:25 p.m. FOX
Week 15: New England Patriots, Dec. 21, MNF, 7:15 p.m., ABC/ESPN
Week 16: San Francisco 49ers, Dec. 27, 3:25 p.m. CBS
Week 17: at Los Angeles Chargers, Jan. 3, TBD
Week 18: Las Vegas Raiders, Jan. 9 or 10, TBD
This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 7:27 PM.