The Kansas City Chiefs are sitting comfortably during their bye week. At 5-0, the Chiefs went into the off week with arguably their most complete performance of the season. Many names contributed to their most recent victory over the New Orleans Saints, but as we look ahead to the rest of the 2024 schedule, many exciting matchups still remain.
The Chiefs will face some other AFC teams looking to win their respective division. Kansas City still has to face two of the tougher NFC contenders soon after their bye week. Additionally, the irregular stretch of games for K.C. in December will certainly be of focus as the regular season starts to come to a close.
What are the toughest games remaining on the Chiefs' 2024 schedule? Here are the top five.
5. Vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Week 9
Baker Mayfield is carrying over success from last year with a confident demeanor. In some ways, the play of Mayfield has been the best among QBs in the NFL on particular weeks. He is delivering quick, well-timed throws while being able to give his pass catchers opportunities for yards after the catch. Tampa Bay's offense is proving to be balanced and efficient while putting up a great amount of points (10th in NFL entering Week 6).
The Buccaneers' defense has seen a drop in play compared to most Todd Bowles' defenses in Tampa. Though, they are not complete pushovers on that side of the ball, due to veteran experience and disguised looks. This matchup will prove to be an interesting test on Monday Night Football in Week 9. The Buccaneers will give the Chiefs all they can handle for four quarters.
4. At Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 17
This matchup being the final of three games in an 11-day span has to be taken into account for this Week 17 meeting. Not to mention, the Chiefs take on the Steelers on Christmas Day, an afternoon that was not too kind to Kansas City last year. The Pittsburgh defense, especially at pass rush and defensive line, will test Patrick Mahomes and Co. greatly. Can the Chiefs' offensive tackles, who struggled some early this season, hold their own in that daunting personnel matchup?
Given where the Steelers are at most in seasons under the great Mike Tomlin, they are likely to be fighting for their playoff lives at the very least here. Perhaps, they may even be looking to clinch a division title in the rigid AFC North. As a result, they will not go down quietly on Christmas Day in Pittsburgh.
3. At San Francisco 49ers, Week 7
The 49ers have not necessarily played up to their standards in some areas so far. San Francisco is 3-3, having blown leads of 10+ points in the fourth quarter twice already. Brock Purdy is still impressing, due to his ability to hit on layered throws in between or over defenders. However, the 49ers defense has largely disappointed compared to where they usually sit among the entire NFL.
Recent success for Kansas City over San Francisco is key here. Mahomes has two of his Super Bowl wins and two more regular season victories to his name against San Francisco, with a 4-0 record all-time against the 49ers. The fact that the Chiefs also get them off a bye week where Andy Reid is 21-4 in the regular season as a head coach helps to make this a little lower in the toughest matchups remaining.
2. At Buffalo Bills, Week 11
The Bills always give the Chiefs one of their toughest tests. Going to Buffalo after two straight home games is certainly going to be one of the more challenging trips of the season for Kansas City. Josh Allen is still figuring some things out with a reconfigured wide receiver room. But, this offense can remain balanced and score at a high clip when they are rolling. The defense is still well-coached, executes their assignments, and continues to create takeaways. Depending on how things finish, the outcome of this one could determine playoff seeding for each team within the AFC.
1. Vs Houston Texans, Week 16
The aforementioned three-game stretch in 11 days involves this major one against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City will host Houston on a Saturday, just four days before their previously mentioned Christmas Day trip to Pittsburgh.
It has not all been pretty for the Texans so far. Nonetheless, the style in which they do things is still awe-inspiring. CJ Stroud has the accuracy and pocket presence of a seasoned vet. There are different weapons that he can rely on in various situations. Defensively, Houston is physical in the front seven. And even on the backend, they rarely make the same mistake twice.
This team has as good of a shot as anyone to win the AFC this year if the Chiefs do not participate in Super Bowl LIX. Simply put, the Texans are too fundamentally sound and prepared by amazing coaching to have many low points. And they are still growing and improving, to boot. That makes them the toughest game remaining on the Chiefs' 2024 schedule.