Reacting to KC Chiefs' 2023 Regular Season Schedule

The Kansas City Chiefs' 2023 regular season schedule has been released along with the rest of the NFL's slates, and the reigning Super Bowl champions are in for quite the 17-game stretch.

Headlined by Divisional Round, AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LVII rematches from last season, Kansas City's set of contests also boasts six normally-included AFC West bouts and plenty of other intriguing matchups to follow over the course of the season.

What are some notable parts of the Chiefs' 2023 schedule, and what could the team's record be after getting through the gauntlet? The Arrowhead Report staff provides analysis.

Joshua Brisco: While it will be a bit strange to kick off the 2023 season against the Lions, who have no particular rivalry or history with the Chiefs, the 2023 schedule is jam-packed full of high-profile showdowns between Kansas City and their AFC opponents hoping to avoid another AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead. December matchups with the Bills and Bengals will certainly be the most consequential matchups of KC's season, but we'll have all year to prepare for those showdowns.

In the meantime, I'm most excited for Week 4, when — knock on wood — we'll finally get the Patrick Mahomes vs. Aaron Rodgers matchup we've been waiting to see. Add in the rest of the Jets' roster, featuring 2022's reigning offensive and defensive rookie of the year winners and former Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, and Mahomes and Rodgers should be set for an excellent battle.

Record prediction: 13-4

Jordan Foote: The Chiefs' schedule is a lot more balanced and unintimidating than many projected it would be coming into the NFL's release on Thursday night. With that said, there are still tons of challenges the reigning Super Bowl champions will have to face en route to attempting to defend their title. Not only could a couple of divisional competitors improve, but the conference itself and even a couple of NFC battles could prove to be legitimate tests.

For the sake of choosing something different than some of my colleagues, I'll roll with the Week 18 contest against the Chargers as the outing I'm keeping my eye on. It's impossible to know where the two teams will be in the standings by the time that regular-season finale rolls around but if my Chiefs record prediction ends up holding, there could be some AFC West and AFC playoff implications at play in January of 2024.

Record prediction: 12-5 13-4

Mark Van Sickle: The Chiefs will always have a difficult schedule as long as they continue to finish atop the AFC West. That’s part of being good. Another part of being good: a load of late afternoon and primetime games. There are only two noon games on the schedule. On paper, the toughest part of it comes after the bye. At home against the Eagles, at the Raiders, at the Packers, versus the Bills and at the Patriots, (Christmas break at home against the Raiders) before closing the season with the Bengals and at the Chargers is rough.

The Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles after the bye will be a lot of fun, and fans are going to go wild at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. This could be a matchup between two teams that are once again at the top of their conferences and while I’m not going to predict 9-0 to start the season before the bye, it is certainly in play. The Eagles started last season 9-0 and if both teams have the best record in their respective conferences at that point in the season, that will make this matchup even bigger than it is already set to be.

Record prediction: 13-4

Zack Eisen: The Chiefs had the “hardest schedule in NFL history” last year, according to some analytics. This year looks much more favorable for them as the Super Bowl champions. I’ve always looked at the schedule in pockets of four games (now five to end the season because of the extra game). None of those pockets look terribly difficult and the Chiefs should feel pretty good by the time they get into the bye. Having the Week 10 bye is especially beneficial for the team to essentially split the season in half.

As always, the Chiefs have a lot of primetime or late-afternoon games, so that’ll be fun as a viewer. The matchups are also marquee, starting Week 1 when Kansas City raises the banner. Overall, the schedule makers seemed to give the Chiefs a favorable schedule as they embark on their quest to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 20 years.

Record prediction: 14-3

Conner Christopherson: The Chiefs' schedule this year has a nice balance. Sure, it looks difficult at first glance due to the Chiefs' first place in division matchups, but nothing is grouped together. Home and away games are spread out so the Chiefs don't have more than two away games in a row. None of the matchups against the other AFC divisional winners are back-to-back or even near each other. The Chiefs have a late bye after their foray in Germany. There is really nothing to truly raise an eyebrow at.

As far as how the Chiefs will fare? I'd hazard a guess that I think they will do just fine. Matchups against the NFC North and AFC East lead to some fun opponents like the Lions and Jets, but I would not say the overall strength of those divisions is too great. The toughest matchups on the Chiefs' schedule are home games, in fact, with the Bengals, Bills and Eagles all coming to town. It is as nice of a schedule as the Chiefs should expect when finishing first in the division, which tells me Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are about to have another great season.

Record prediction: 14-3

Marlow Ferguson Jr.: After watching the Kansas City Chiefs put together a 14-win season despite having last year’s toughest strength of schedule, it’s certainly intriguing to think about what they could do with the 16th-toughest schedule this year. Though, according to ESPN, it’ll be the sixth-most difficult schedule for wide receivers, so seeing how the Chiefs again navigate through those battles with their young, somewhat-unproven group will again be a must-watch with this many elite secondaries to see.

The Super Bowl rematch on Monday Night Football is likely the unquestioned most exciting game of the season, but it’s difficult not to have eyes on that Week 17 duel against the Cincinnati Bengals. With the way the Bills’ schedule shakes it down the stretch, it wouldn’t be a surprise if that 3:25 p.m. game decides if the AFC runs through GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium or in Cincinnati. Chalk that up as another potential chapter in the brewing rivalry between the two teams, with potentially everything from a No. 1 seed to an MVP case on the line.

Record prediction: 14-3