Chiefs Face Challenging Start Against Six Playoff Teams Before 2025 Bye Week
The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to adversity, but their 2025 schedule throws them straight into the fire. With six of their first nine opponents being 2024 playoff teams, the reigning AFC champions face a daunting early-season stretch before reaching their bye in Week 10. It’s a demanding start that will immediately test their championship resolve.
Despite previous success against many of these teams, this is a new season. In the NFL, no win is ever guaranteed, and momentum can swing with a single play. While history shouldn’t be ignored, the Chiefs understand that respect must be earned every week. There’s little room for error in their opening gauntlet, and that’s exactly the kind of challenge Kansas City may need.
Super Bowl Rematch in Week 2
The Chiefs kick off their campaign with an international matchup in Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers. While technically a neutral site, Kansas City is expected to bring experience and poise to a setting where the Chargers may struggle. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are a combined 16-3 in-season openers, a trend likely to continue here.
The real fireworks come in Week 2 when Kansas City hosts the Philadelphia Eagles in the highly anticipated Super Bowl LIX rematch. This marks the fifth straight year these teams will meet, with Kansas City aiming to avenge their most recent title-game loss. Philadelphia is the reigning champions, and this is a game that could certainly go either way.
Baltimore arrives in Week 4 with pressure mounting after another disappointing playoff exit. Lamar Jackson’s individual brilliance hasn’t translated into deep postseason runs, and Arrowhead Stadium has historically been unkind to the Ravens. The Chiefs know this is a tone-setting game, especially if they’re seeking separation in the AFC race.
NFC Heavyweights Await
Week 6 brings the Detroit Lions to town—another playoff-tested team with lofty goals. Despite losing both coordinators this offseason, Dan Campbell’s squad still boasts a loaded roster on both sides of the ball. Detroit has something to prove after a shocking 2024 playoff exit at home against Washington.
Jared Goff remains unbeaten against Mahomes, though that streak lacks context. Still, this Thursday night showdown is another game that will likely come down to the wire but may go the Lions way, especially with the Chiefs coming off a short week following a road Monday Night Football game. A letdown here wouldn’t be surprising given the circumstances.
In Week 8, Kansas City faces a surging Washington Commanders team led by breakout quarterback Jayden Daniels. After an impressive postseason run to the NFC title game, Washington retooled their offense around Daniels but largely ignored their defensive issues. This could be a trap game if Kansas City underestimates their opponent.
Bills Battle and Familiar Patterns
The gauntlet concludes with a Week 9 road trip to Buffalo—a place that has frustrated the Chiefs in recent regular seasons. Kansas City has dropped multiple close contests to the Bills in the Mahomes era, only to get revenge in January. This pattern may repeat itself again in 2025.
Buffalo enters the year favored to win the AFC East, but their focus remains on postseason positioning. They’ve yet to claim the conference’s top seed during the Mahomes era, a factor that’s kept the road to the Super Bowl running through Kansas City. The stakes for this game could not be higher.
Whether or not the Chiefs pull out a win in Buffalo, the matchup will provide another litmus test for where the team stands entering their break. Kansas City needs to escape this stretch healthy, focused and battle-hardened if they hope to reclaim themselves as champions in 2025.
Final Thoughts
There’s no denying the opening nine games will be a grind for Kansas City. Facing contenders from both conferences, the Chiefs will need to stay sharp, manage injuries and trust their experienced core to weather the storm. The good news? This team thrives when their backs are against the wall.
After how the 2024 season ended, this is the kind of challenge they need. If Kansas City can survive the opening stretch with only minor setbacks, they’ll enter the back half of the year tested and prepared. And for a franchise with goals of capturing many more championships, that’s exactly the kind of journey they welcome.
