It's expected that we'll get the NFL schedule this week, likely on Thursday though possibly not until next week, and that means it's time to start dreaming of what the Chiefs' will ultimately look like and what primetime games Kansas City will get.
We already know who the Chiefs' opponents will be, though it's not yet clear who the two-time defending Super Bowl champions will face during what week or at what time.
Since the Chiefs were slated at six primetime games in 2023, I'll use that as the bar and say they'll get six again this season. With that in mind, let's take a look at six possible options as primetime contests when the 2024 schedule is officially released.
Predicting the Chiefs' 2024 Primetime Games
1. Houston Texans (Home)
The Chiefs will open the NFL regular season with a home primetime game on Thursday, September 5th. Without a shadow of a doubt, that game will be a standalone in front of a national audience. Most media pundits believe that game will come against the upstart Houston Texans and I tend to agree.
Patrick Mahomes has already taken down Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, and Lamar Jackson. C.J. Stroud feels like the next challenger up, and Houston generally seems to have the same kind of hype the Detroit Lions did when they faced Kansas City in Week 1 of the 2023 season.
It'll be Stefon Diggs' debut with the Texans as well. This is a team many (myself included) will pick to make the AFC Championship game. Why not start the season by facing Mahomes' latest challenger?
2. Baltimore Ravens (Home)
A rematch of the AFC Championship game seems like a logical choice for primetime as well. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have to be itching to get a rematch, especially in a game that was helped decided by L'Jarius Sneed's epic forced fumble on Zay Flowers at the one-yard line.
It feels like last year was Baltimore's best chance, and I don't expect the team to rank in the top five of both offense and defense this year. Even still, Jackson is the youngest two-time MVP in NFL history and he'll want revenge after Steve Spagnuolo embarrassed him in that 17-10 Chiefs win.
I still expect the Ravens to be one of the AFC's best teams, though Kansas City should be improved. This is a game I look forward to betting on the Chiefs to win and I'll be surprised if it doesn't wind up in front of a national audience.
3. Buffalo Bills (Road)
After all of the heartbreak the Chiefs have given Josh Allen and the Bills over the last several seasons, Buffalo finally hit a reset button of sorts this offseason. Gone are Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, in comes talented young WR Keon Coleman.
The Bills have come so, so close so many times against the Chiefs and fallen just short, but this is still the most exciting matchup every year. Buffalo knows how to take Kansas City to the brink, though Mahomes seemingly always finds a way to win.
Somewhat ironically, the Chiefs are 0-3 in their last three regular-season games against the Bills but 3-0 in the playoffs. This is a game Buffalo will feel like it can win. Even still, it'd be a hollow victory until the Bills vanquish their playoff demons.
That makes for a strong top three, now let's dive into the next three on the following page.
4. San Francisco 49ers (Road)
Whew, the Chiefs sure have some tough games on this schedule, don't they? The 49ers nearly toppled Kansas City in the Super Bowl until Patrick Mahomes calmly orchestrated a game-tying and game-winning drive late in the contest.
Kyle Shanahan has now watched a pair of fourth-quarter leads slip away against Mahomes in the Super Bowl, and Brock Purdy will surely want his revenge. Entering the season, these two teams have the best odds to win the Super Bowl. That makes this matchup being on primetime essentially a formality.
The NFL isn't going to let its two best teams square off in a standard noon slate for only half the country. This Super Bowl rematch has Sunday Night Football written all over it.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (Home)
NFL champion against College Football Playoff champion, who says no? Jim Harbaugh is trying to recreate the Chargers in his image, though it may take some time for this rivalry to truly get back to its previous standard. Justin Herbert is a beast at QB, but it's hard to replace Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler overnight.
Los Angeles should be better than their paltry 5-12 record last season just by virtue of better late-game coaching. That said, the Chiefs have five straight wins against their division rival and have firmly taken control of this matchup.
I'd expect at least one AFC West battle to be on primetime and neither the Broncos nor Raiders inspire any excitement. The Chargers at least have Harbaugh going for them, so I expect this to be one of Kansas City's Monday Night Football contests.
6. Atlanta Falcons (Road)
Patrick Mahomes in a dome? Sign me up! The Falcons are one of the most fascinating teams entering the 2024-25 regular season. Kirk Cousins is now under center with a potentially special group of skill-position players. Atlanta chose not to add to that group when they drafted QB Michael Penix Jr. over WR Rome Odunze, but it's still a dangerous team favored to win the NFC South.
The Falcons could be a popular sleeper pick to make a run to the Super Bowl. If I were a schedule-maker, I'd want to capitalize on that excitement by bringing the defending champs to town. Plus, what better way to introduce Bijan Robinson to a national audience than by having him battle the Chiefs?
If you're trying to make the most fun games possible every week, it's hard to go wrong with putting Mahomes in a dome. Kansas City could easily score 40 points in this matchup - who wouldn't want to see that?
No matter what happens, we'll keep you updated with the full schedule release as soon as it becomes available.
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