Chiefs Learn Fate for 2026 NFL Season

Kansas City’s 2026 opponents are nearly finalized. As usual, the Chiefs will play home and away games against each AFC West opponent, along with full-division matchups against the AFC East and NFC West, two of the league’s strongest divisions in 2025. With Kansas City locked into a third-place finish in the AFC West, its 2026 schedule will also include third-place teams from the AFC South, AFC North and NFC South, according to FB Schedules.

On Saturday night, Derrick Henry scored four rushing touchdowns to lead the Baltimore Ravens to a 41-24 win over the Green Bay Packers, keeping their playoff hopes alive. The victory also ensured the Ravens cannot finish lower than second in the AFC North, locking Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals into third place. As a result, the Chiefs are now officially set to travel to Cincinnati in 2026 to face the Bengals.

While the full list of opponents is not yet finalized, most of them are set, including the following:

• Home
  Denver Broncos Los Angeles Chargers Las Vegas Raiders New England Patriots (AFC East) New York Jets (AFC East) Arizona Cardinals (NFC West) San Francisco 49ers (NFC West) Indianapolis Colts (3rd in AFC South)
• Away
  Broncos Chargers Raiders Buffalo Bills (AFC East) Miami Dolphins (AFC East) Los Angeles Rams (NFC West) Seattle Seahawks (NFC West) Cincinnati Bengals (3rd in AFC North) Panthers/Buccaneers/Falcons/Saints (3rd in NFC South)

"The Ravens win tonight locks the Bengals into finishing 3rd in the AFC North," Bengals on the Brain's Joe Goodberry wrote on X. "This means they get the 3rd place schedule next season: Home vs Chiefs, Away vs Dolphins, Away vs Commanders"

The Chiefs will face the Raiders in the regular-season finale in Week 18, with the date and time still to be determined at the time of publication. From there, the franchise could see an offseason full of changes ahead of the 2026 NFL season.