The schedule for the 2023 NFL season has officially been revealed.
We now know exactly when the Kansas City Chiefs will play their opponents during the upcoming season and it’s certainly an interesting schedule compared to prior years. With that in mind, here are some quick-hitting way-too-early game-by-game score predictions for you to consider.
Take a look at some thoughts on the Chiefs’ schedule, the games we think they’ll win, plus those we think they could lose down below:
Week 1: Chiefs vs. Lions
These two teams had some of the most explosive offenses in the NFL just a season ago. I’m reminded of the last time Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff faced off with one of the highest-scoring games in league history between the Chiefs and Rams in 2018. I think the conditions of this game could lead to a similar outcome. Remember, the Lions finished the 2022 NFL season scoring the fifth-most points per game on average.
Prediction: Chiefs win 37-30
Week 2: Chiefs @ Jaguars
This will be the third matchup against Doug Pederson’s Jaguars squad in the past two seasons. They most recently faced them in the divisional round of the playoffs. Having this game early in the season means that it could be a scorcher in Jacksonville. They played there in Week 1 of 2019 with a heat index of nearly 115 degrees. It could test Kansas City’s depth and fitness early in the season, but I’m not sure the Jags have done enough to curtail the Chiefs’ offense from doing its thing.
Prediction: Chiefs win 27-23
Week 3: Chiefs vs. Bears
I feel like the Bears could have a sneaky-good season in 2023, which is why I’m excited to get this game out of the way early, perhaps before they hit their stride. I think they’re going to take some time to gel with new pieces like DJ Moore and the players the team added in the 2023 NFL draft. Kansas City should be able to manage a win at home here.
Prediction: Chiefs win 38-21
Week 4: Chiefs @ Jets (SNF)
This game happening early in the season feels like it’ll be good news for the Chiefs. Aaron Rodgers will still be working out the kinks with his new teammates to an extent. I suspect this one will be a thriller right down to the wire with Kansas City and New York exchanging blows right down to the final seconds of a game.
Prediction: Chiefs win 41-40
Week 5: Chiefs @ Vikings
The Chiefs always have a head-scratching loss and I think this might be it this year. Minnesota averaged 25 points per game last season, which was good for No. 8 in the NFL. In the 2023 draft, they added USC WR Jordan Addison to an offense that already featured WR Justin Jefferson, RB Dalvin Cook and TE T.J. Hockenson. The wild card is QB Kirk Cousins, who has been wildly inconsistent.
Prediction: Vikings win 35-28
Week 6: Chiefs vs. Broncos (TNF)
Fresh off a loss, I think the Chiefs come back focused on a short week at home. This game will be their first against the Sean Payton-led Broncos. I expect them to be a much more formidable opponent with Payton coaching them, but as long as Russell Wilson is the quarterback, their success will be capped.
Prediction: Chiefs win 27-24
Week 7: Chiefs vs. Chargers
The Chargers spent a boatload of money last offseason to try and dethrone the Chiefs. They didn’t even manage to get a regular-season win against Kansas City. Frankly, I was surprised the team kept head coach Brandon Staley for another year. Even with the additions they made this offseason, I suspect they’ll be competitive, but they’ll have trouble getting past the Chiefs.
Prediction: Chiefs win 26-23
Week 8: Chiefs @ Broncos
Three AFC West opponents in a row is a really tough stretch for Kansas City. I expect this game to be even closer than the last and low-scoring even, but I think Denver will be waiting for another year to get past the Chiefs.
Prediction: Chiefs win 17-14
Week 9: Chiefs vs. Dolphins (Germany)
The Chiefs are considered the designated home team for this game. Considering they have international marketing rights in Germany and Patrick Mahomes’ international super-stardom, Frankfurt Stadium might feel very much like a miniature Arrowhead Stadium. I think that Kansas City runs away with this one at a neutral field.
Prediction: Chiefs win 28-20
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Chiefs vs. Eagles (SNF)
A much-anticipated Super Bowl rematch. This one feels a bit one-sided, though. The Chiefs and Andy Reid will get extra time to prepare with their bye week. We all know about Reid’s record coming off the bye week. In Super Bowl rematches, the winners of the big game also tend to repeat.
Prediction: Chiefs win 31-28
Week 12: Chiefs @ Raiders
I don’t expect Las Vegas to be particularly competitive this year, but they always play the Chiefs tough. This seems like a really good point to pounce on Kansas City if you’re the Raiders. It’s a short week to prepare for Kansas City with a Sunday night rematch with the Super Bowl champs the week prior, plus there is the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. It has all the makings for a disappointing upset.
Prediction: Raiders win 27-19
Week 13: Chiefs @ Packers (SNF)
Jordan Love is a virtual unknown at this point. He could be up to speed and playing at a high level by Week 13 or he could be benched for Sean Clifford. In Love’s game against the Chiefs in 2021, he really struggled. Steve Spagnuolo has a penchant for making life difficult on new quarterbacks and I suspect that’ll be the case in this game no matter who is playing.
Prediction: Chiefs win 27-17
Week 14: Chiefs vs. Bills
The Bills jumped the Chiefs in the regular season last year in Week 6. They’ve improved the depth of their team and added some interesting pieces in free agency and the draft. Still, I get the sense that Kansas City will be better prepared for this game against Buffalo in Week 14 than they were early in the season last year.
Prediction: Chiefs win 37-30
Week 15: Chiefs @ Patriots (MNF)
The Patriots’ offense looks better suited for 2003 than 2023. As long as the Chiefs can put up some points and stop the run, they’ll win this game with relative ease. Heck, even if New England has benched Mac Jones by this point, I think Kansas City very much so has the upper hand.
Prediction: Chiefs win 28-6
Week 16: Chiefs vs. Raiders (Christmas Day)
A lump of coal served to the Raiders on Christmas Day. Seriously, only Las Vegas could be lucky enough to play a rival in their home stadium on a holiday. If the Raiders do beat the Chiefs early in the season as I suspect, this game will be a trouncing by Kansas City.
Prediction: Chiefs win 41-24
Week 17: Chiefs vs. Bengals
The Bengals currently have a 2-0 regular-season record against the Chiefs during the Joe Burrow era. With this game taking place so close to the playoffs and on a short week to prepare, I suspect that Kansas City might be a bit conservative in their playcalling and save their best for an eventual rematch in the playoffs. Still, I expect a close and hard-fought game. In the end, Cincinnati gets another regular season win for their empty trophy case.
Prediction: Bengals win 27-24
Week 18: Chiefs @ Chargers
This game could potentially be for the AFC West division or the Chiefs could be resting their starters in anticipation of the playoffs. If they’re resting starters, Los Angeles could steal one here. If Kansas City is playing their starters, I fully expect them to come away with a win at So-Fi Stadium, which will be packed by Chiefs fans as usual.
Prediction: Chiefs win 35-24
