Kansas City Chiefs' 2025 schedule analysis: Circle the date, easiest, toughest stretches

Circle the date: Sept. 14 vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 2)|The Eagles crushed the Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. How will the Chiefs fare in the rematch? 

Kansas City, which has hoisted two Lombardi Trophies over the past three seasons, has split its last two Super Bowl rematches in the regular season.

In 2023, the Eagles beat the Chiefs 21-17 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City in Week 11. Last season, they knocked off the San Francisco 49ers 28-18 on the road in Week 7.

Philadelphia lost some key defensive pieces this offseason, including edge-rusher Josh Sweat, who signed a four-year, $76.4M deal with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. Sweat led the Eagles in sacks (eight in 16 games) in the regular season in 2024.

The Chiefs' offensive line, which allowed the league's sixth-highest pressure rate (24%) in 2024, per Pro Football Reference, could still struggle against Philadelphia. 

In March, the Chiefs traded star offensive lineman Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears. They took Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons (pick No. 32) in the 2025 NFL Draft to replace him. Simmons suffered a season-ending left knee injury in 2024, but Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has said he should be ready for training camp in July.

Toughest stretch: Weeks 6-9 | During this stretch, the Chiefs face three teams that made the playoffs last season. The Las Vegas Raiders went 4-13 in 2024, but they may improve under new head coach Pete Carroll, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. 

The Detroit Lions (Week 6) and the Washington Commanders (Week 8) could expose the holes in the Chiefs' secondary, which allowed the league's 18th-most passing yards (218.8) last season.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff had the league's second-most passing yards (4,629 in 17 games) in 2024. Meanwhile, Commanders QB Jayden Daniels tied for the league's 10th-most touchdown passes (25 in 17 games). 

While the Buffalo Bills have lost four straight playoff games to the Chiefs, they have beaten Kansas City in their past three regular-season matchups, two of which were on the road. 

Easiest stretch: Weeks 12-15 | The Indianapolis Colts are holding a QB competition between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. Don't expect either QB to make the Colts a formidable opponent for the Chiefs. NFL Media analytics expert Cynthia Frelund projects them to win 7.6 games this upcoming season.

The Cowboys could be in a rebuilding year after going 7-10 in 2024. This offseason, they hired new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who has no head-coaching experience.

The Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers have star QBs, C.J. Stroud (Texans) and Justin Herbert (Chargers). However, both games are at home, and both teams lost to the Chiefs last season. 

Main takeaway: The league still views the Chiefs as a marquee team | The Chiefs went 15-2 last season, but 11 of their wins were by one possession. Can they continue to rely on that luck in 2025? Plus, tight end Travis Kelce seems to be slowing. Last season, the 35-year-old had 823 receiving yards in 16 games, his lowest mark since his rookie season in 2013.   

Despite the questions, the NFL still wants to feature the Chiefs in high-profile matchups. They have seven prime-time games in 2025, the most in the league. Perhaps they should thank singer-songwriter Taylor Swift — Kelce's girlfriend — for their popularity.