:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69277927/1271838024.0.jpg)
The 2021 regular-season schedule is here!
The Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest game is Week 5 hosting the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football.
The Chiefs won’t see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this year — that is, unless both teams make it back to the Super Bowl. With that being the case, the biggest game has to be Week 5, which will see Kansas City take on Buffalo in a rematch of last year’s AFC championship in a nationally-aired primetime game.
At this writing, Buffalo is tied with the Rams and 49ers for third-best odds to win Super Bowl LVI, and the team spent its first two draft picks on two defensive ends that a lot of analysts liked: Miami’s Greg Rousseau and Wake Forest’s Boogie Basham. Perhaps the Bills watched the Super Bowl and believe a revamped front seven is the key to getting them over the hump against the Chiefs.
The Chiefs defeated the Bills last year in Week 5 and then in the AFC title game. With still only one conference bye to play for, this game could hold huge playoff implications — despite being played in the first third of the season. Close behind: Week 2 at Baltimore, Week 1 hosting Cleveland.
2021 Schedule
| Wk 1 | Sun Sep 12 | Browns | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Kansas City | CBS 3:25 pm |
| Wk 2 | Sun Sep 19 | @Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore | NBC 7:20 pm |
| Wk 3 | Sun Sep 26 | Chargers | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Kansas City | CBS 12:00 pm |
| Wk 4 | Sun Oct 3 | @Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia | CBS 12:00 pm |
| Wk 5 | Sun Oct 10 | Bills | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Kansas City | NBC 7:20 pm |
| Wk 6 | Sun Oct 17 | @Washington | FedEx Field Washington | CBS 12:00 pm |
| Wk 7 | Sun Oct 24 | @Titans | Nissan Stadium Nashville | CBS 12:00 pm |
| Wk 8 | Mon Nov 1 | Giants | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Kansas City | ESPN 7:15 pm |
| Wk 9 | Sun Nov 7 | Packers | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Kansas City | FOX 3:25 pm |
| Wk 10 | Sun Nov 14 | @Raiders | Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas | NBC 7:20 pm |
| Wk 11 | Sun Nov 21 | Cowboys | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Kansas City | FOX 3:25 pm |
| Wk 12 | Bye Week | - | - | - |
| Wk 13 | Sun Dec 5 | Broncos | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Kansas City | CBS 12:00 pm |
| Wk 14 | Sun Dec 12 | Raiders | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Kansas City | CBS 12:00 pm |
| Wk 15 | Thu Dec 16 | @Chargers | SoFi Stadium Los Angeles | FOX/NFLN Amazon 7:20 pm |
| Wk 16 | Sun Dec 26 | Steelers | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Kansas City | CBS 3:25 pm |
| Wk 17 | Sun Jan 2 | @Bengals | Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati | CBS 12:00 pm |
| Wk 18 | Sun Jan 9 | @Broncos | Empire Field Denver | CBS 3:25 pm |
Rapid analysis
The Chiefs have five scheduled primetime games for the third season in a row. With there now being 17 games on the schedule, teams can be flexed to a maximum of seven primetime games. The scheduled primetime games are spread throughout the season with three in the first half (Ravens Week 2, Bills Week 5 and Giants Week 8) and two in the second half (Raiders Week 10 and Chargers Week 15). The Chiefs only have seven scheduled Noon games, a reflection of having a premier quarterback in Patrick Mahomes and the continued success of two straight Super Bowl appearances. Unlike what has seemed to become typical in recent seasons, the Chiefs will play three of their final four games on the road. After a Week 13 bye week, the Chiefs’ final six games pit them against AFC teams, including four games within the AFC West. The Chiefs’ first-ever Week 18 regular-season game will be against the Denver Broncos and includes special flex scheduling for that weekend alone.
Strength of schedule
The Chiefs play the 11th-toughest schedule in the league in 2021, according to CBS Sports (full rankings based upon 2020 win percentage).