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Weeks 17 and 18 dates, times and networks are announced later in the season. Prime-time games can move under flexible scheduling.
Kansas City Chiefs Schedule 2026: Full Slate, Dates, Times and TV
Games That Will Define the Chiefs’ Season
| Wk 1 vs Broncos | A Monday night opener at Arrowhead against a division rival, and Kansas City’s first look at itself after a 6-11 season derailed by Patrick Mahomes’ ACL injury. |
| Wk 7 at Seahawks | Sunday night in Seattle against the reigning Super Bowl champions. The toughest road environment on the schedule and a genuine measuring stick. |
| Wks 12-13 | Back-to-back Thursday nights on the road — Buffalo on Thanksgiving, then the Rams six days later. An unusually punishing scheduling quirk. |
| Wks 12-14 | Three straight road games at Buffalo, the Rams and Cincinnati. If the Chiefs are chasing a playoff spot, this is where the season is decided. |
Nine Playoff Opponents
Kansas City faces nine teams that made the 2025 playoffs. Its opponents’ combined 2025 record of 155-134-0 (.536) is the fifth-toughest strength of schedule in the league.
An Early Bye
The Week 5 bye is one of the earliest in the league, meaning the Chiefs play 13 straight games to close the regular season.
Ten National Windows
Six prime-time games — three at Arrowhead — and at least 10 nationally televised appearances in all.
How the Schedule Sets Up
Two home prime-time games to open should give Kansas City a fast start, then road trips to Miami and Las Vegas before the earliest bye on the calendar. The Chargers at home and the Sunday night trip to Seattle bookend a difficult October. November opens with the Denver rematch and settles into a manageable run of Jets and Cardinals at Arrowhead.
Then it turns severe: Buffalo on Thanksgiving night, the Rams on a short week, and Cincinnati, all on the road. New England on Monday night and San Francisco at home follow before two AFC West games to close. Coming off 6-11 and a lost season, Andy Reid’s 14th Chiefs team needs the front half to bank wins before that November-December gauntlet. For roster context, see our NFL roster cuts tracker. Schedules and flexible-scheduling rules are published by the NFL.
The Bottom Line
Eight home games, a Monday night opener against Denver, an early Week 5 bye, and back-to-back Thursday road games in late November — Kansas City’s 2026 schedule is front-loaded with opportunity and back-loaded with travel. Bookmark this page; results and Week 17-18 details are updated throughout the season.