Top 10 Opponents the Kansas City Chiefs Should Open with in 2024
With the NFL schedule set to be released sometime in May, one question is who the Kansas City Chiefs, the now defending two-time Super Bowl champions, will open their season against. Ideally, fans will expect to see them at home to unveil their championship banner, as they will have eight home games this year. Here are 10 potential matchups the Chiefs could be involved in, at home or on the road, to start the season.
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team competes in the National Football League as a member club of the American Football Conference South division. On one hand, the Kansas City Chiefs are the team to beat in the NFL, and they appear to be unstoppable. On the other hand, the Houston Texans turned things around after a dismal three seasons to become an AFC contender in one season. With the offseason acquisitions as well as the rise of CJ Stroud, a potential successor as the best quarterback to Patrick Mahomes, it would be ideal to see a potential AFC Championship matchup to open the season and see where the Texans stand with the Chiefs.
I'm a little hesitant to say this one is a good idea, for the time being. They were a formidable opponent for lots of teams last season, but I think it might be a little early for CJ Stroud to go up against Pat Mahomes in the opening game.
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League as a member club of the American Football Conference North division. A rematch of last year's AFC Championship, the Chiefs edged out the Ravens 17-10 in Baltimore. For the Chiefs, it will be a chance to remind Baltimore of the missed opportunity they had despite having league MVP Lamar Jackson. For the Ravens, it's a chance to spoil the party and start off 1-0.
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football franchise based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals currently compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference North division. The Chiefs are the reigning dynasty, but the Bengals feel they have the kryptonite in Joe Burrow, who missed most of last year due to an injury. Before the 2022 AFC Championship game, the Bengals had built momentum against the Chiefs. They hope to send a reminder that the rivalry between the Chiefs and Bengals isn't dead.
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in Los Angeles. The Chargers compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference West division. The Chargers made a splash hire at the top with former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh taking over the reins for his first NFL stint since his days with the 49ers. What better way for him to have his Charger coaching debut than to be in Kansas City to watch the banner fall? In some ways, this will be a battle of champions with Harbaugh, fresh off his national championship, against the reigning Super Bowl champions.
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football franchise based in Las Vegas. The Raiders began playing in 1960 as a member club of the American Football League; they have been a member club of the National Football League since the 1970 AFL–NFL merger... read more The Raiders have had their tiffs with the Chiefs, which included a Christmas Eve.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers currently compete in the National Football League as a member team of the National Football Conference South division.
The Denver Broncos are an American football team based in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference West division.
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints currently compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's National Football Conference South division.
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area that competes in the National Football League.
Buffalo Bills had the longest playoff drought of any team which came to an end in 2017.