Kansas City Chiefs: Toughest stretch on 2020 schedule

The NFL, in a business-as-usual move, dropped the 2020 season’s schedule. The Kansas City Chiefs open up the 2020 NFL season at home versus the Houston Texans. But what about the team’s most daunting stretch of season?

Quite honestly, the Kansas City Chiefs have a pretty good looking schedule for the 2020 season. What makes it even better is the fact that the Chiefs are returning a high number of players from last year’s championship roster. That continuity will certainly help as the team looks to “run it back” by winning a second consecutive Super Bowl title.

And continuity plays a role, too, in determining the team’s toughest sliver of schedule.

Let’s take the Houston Texans, for instance. Gone is wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, traded to the Arizona Cardinals in part for running back David Johnson. Houston also later acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Los Angeles Rams.

Now, that’s just two additions, but both of those guys should play a large role in Houston’s upcoming season. The problem is that, due to the current pandemic, they may not have that much time to build a rapport with Houston’s stud quarterback, Deshaun Watson.

Watson already had that relationship in place with Hopkins due to playing a couple of seasons together. But the chemistry is still going to be wonky between him, Johnson, and Cooks when the Texans (hopefully) open the season at Arrowhead on September 10th.

The Los Angeles Chargers have that problem, too, but even more amplified.

In the recent NFL Draft, with the No. 6 overall pick, the Chargers selected quarterback Justin Herbert out of Oregon to replace longtime starter Philip Rivers, who signed with the Colts earlier in the offseason.

How likely is it that he’ll start the season? If he does start over Tyrod Taylor, expect growing pains early, especially in Week 2 when the Chiefs and Chargers square off wherever the Chargers play their home games this season.

Multiple other early season opponents face similar problems:

• The Patriots will be playing with a new starting quarterback, presumably Jarrett Stidham.
• The Raiders just relocated to Las Vegas plus added numerous pieces through the draft and free agency, all of whom will need time to acclimate.
• The Broncos drafted two wide receivers with their first two picks in the draft; when, exactly, will they have time to practice with Drew Lock?
• And the Carolina Panthers not only have a new head coach and coordinators, but also a new starting quarterback.

As the season progresses, the continuity, development, and relationship issues will iron out themselves. Just look at the Kansas City Chiefs defense in 2019 as an example of that.