Week 7: vs. San Francisco 49ers (October 20, 3:25, FOX)
The Chiefs will travel to Santa Clara in October for the second time in three years for another Super Bowl rematch. The 49ers will be hungry for revenge, while Patrick Mahomes will aim to assert his dominance over San Francisco, against whom he holds a 4-0 record.
Despite their success last season, the 49ers have a new defensive coordinator, which may lead to some growing pains for their typically dominant defense. Led by Nick Bosa, San Francisco could exploit a potentially weak tackle duo if things go awry for Kansas City.
Ultimately, the Chiefs will continue to dominate the Bay Area, handing the Niners another defeat.
PREDICTION: Chiefs 22, 49ers 19 OT (purely a coincidence) and the Chiefs climb to 5-1.
Week 8: @ Las Vegas Raiders (October 27, 3:25, CBS)
I'm not dwelling on last year's Christmas Day game. Antonio Pierce and Gardner Minshew aren't on my radar. What matters is the Chiefs asserting their dominance by winning the Super Bowl in the Raiders' own stadium.
The Raiders could use another dose of humility, and Patrick Mahomes isn't likely to surrender a game in the very venue where he triumphed at the highest level.
PREDICTION: Chiefs 29, Raiders 17 and the Chiefs improve to 6-1.
Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (November 4, 7:15, ESPN/ABC)
Despite losing Tom Brady to retirement, the Buccaneers took a step forward in 2023 with Baker Mayfield. They improved their record, won a playoff game, and gave Detroit all they could handle in the Divisional Round.
While the Buccaneers don't have a long history of success, the Chiefs haven't beaten them at Arrowhead since 1986. Granted, Tampa Bay has only traveled to KC twice in the last 39 years.
This time, the Chiefs will end the drought and hand Tampa Bay a decisive defeat.
PREDICTION: Chiefs 37, Bucs 17 as K.C. runs its record to 7-1.
Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos (November 10, Noon, CBS)
Broncos Country? Let’s eat $85M in dead money to get rid of Russell Wilson. Out goes Wilson and in comes Bo Nix. The Broncos are in full rebuild mode and shouldn’t be a threat in the AFC West for multiple seasons.
The Chiefs have no business losing any games to the Broncos this season. Denver's roster is quite depleted, and Bo Nix isn't instilling fear in anyone in the NFL. While Sean Payton might keep the game competitive, Kansas City should ultimately pull away, especially with the home-field advantage.