KC Chiefs Schedule 2023: Game-by-game predictions for upcoming season
By Matt Conner
WEEK 2, Sept. 17 (Sunday) – @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Typically the discussion of a game in a new season comes down to the additions or subtractions made by a particular franchise in the previous offseason. However, the quality of this matchup, or just how contested things will look for the Chiefs in this potential road hurdle against the Jaguars, will come down to holdovers for the home team.
The Jaguars, like every other NFL team, will only go as far as their quarterback can take them. That means Trevor Lawrence’s growth is going to be the primary storyline in Jacksonville this fall. He looked the part last year as a second-year quarterback who finished No. 7 in overall MVP voting and made his first Pro Bowl. His touchdown to interception ratio went from 12:17 to 25:8 and if he further learns to limit mistakes, he’s going to look very good in 2023.
One of the most overlooked moves of this entire offseason is the decision by Jacksonville to add Calvin Ridley last year in a deal with the Atlanta Falcons. While he’s been away from the game for some time, when he’s on, he’s a game-changing pass catcher whose presence will elevate the Jags’ offense to new levels. If Lawrence himself remains on the rise, the Jags could be real trouble for most teams. And that’s not to mention the hopes in Travon Walker, last year’s top pick, as he comes into his second year on defense.
Were the Chiefs a lesser club, Jacksonville would be much more concerning, but the Chiefs are a few steps beyond the Jags at this point as a dynasty in the making. T his game should excite and could surprise but there’s JAX is too growth-dependent to think K.C. will lose.
Prediction: Chiefs 30, Jaguars 17
WEEK 3, Sept. 24 (Sunday) – vs. Chicago Bears
The good news for the Bears faithful is that the team looks far more compelling at this point than they did 12 months ago. There’s an appreciable increase of talent on both sides of the ball and some positions even look deep. All of this will allow the Bears to compete with that many more teams in 2023, even if one of those teams is not Kansas City.
Justin Fields is a talented quarterback. D.J. Moore was a savvy addition to a hungry receiving corps. Darnell Wright and Nate Davis will bolster the front line on offense, while T.J. Edwards and Terrell Edmunds will elevate the second level of the defense. And Tyrique Stevenson should make an already impressive young secondary that much stronger for the long term. These are all well and good, but Ryan Poles and company have a long way to go to build a contender and the Chiefs are going to love welcoming a team to Arrowhead with such a clear talent differential.
If Matt Eberflus’s team can go home having played hard, that will be enough of a victory, but on paper, this should be a cakewalk for a Chiefs team that was surgical in its attempts to address roster needs this offseason.
Prediction: Chiefs 42, Bears 24