The first undefeated Chiefs season prediction has emerged

That did not take long — at all.

Less than 24 hours after the 2021 NFL schedule release, one national media member has the Kansas City Chiefs going 17-0 (you may find the full schedule here).

This morning — on his ESPN radio show, “Keyshawn, JWill and Zubin” — former NFL wide receiver and analyst Keyshawn Johnson was asked when the Chiefs would lose their first game.

Johnson’s answer was simple: “They don’t lose.”

“They’re going to run the table,” Johnson said, before clarifying himself. “Regular season, regular season... this year they’re going to go undefeated.”

Of course, JWill and Zubin challenged Johnson.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t going to be hard, I just said they’re going to be undefeated... new offensive line, loss in the Super Bowl.”

My take

As we have seen as recently as last year — and as Johnson’s co-hosts alluded to — going undefeated is not easy because of the NFL’s parity. If someone told you that the Chiefs would lose one game in all of 2020 (while using their starters), few reporters and analysts would have been able to tell you it would come against the Las Vegas Raiders.

My personal way-too-early prediction is the Chiefs go on quite a run, but they will not be undefeated. Week 2 against the Ravens, Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills and Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers will all be challenges, but I think the Chiefs get out with victories. The first loss I have is Week 15 — when the Chiefs have to travel on short rest to visit the Chargers after already playing two straight AFC West division games. At that point, they would drop to 13-1. The other loss I have them down for is Week 18, when I presume they might be resting their starters against Denver.

The Chiefs would thus finish the year 15-2.