Hailey
The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2026 opponents can be mostly predicted well in advance thanks to the NFL’s long-standing scheduling formula. While the exact dates and kickoff times will not be known until the official schedule release, fans can already see which teams Kansas City is set to face and which matchups are still dependent on final standings.
The NFL continues to use a 17-game regular season format in 2026. That total includes six division games, eight games from two rotating divisions, and three games based on where the Chiefs finish in their division the previous season.
How The Chiefs’ 2026 Schedule Is Determined
Division Games (6 Games)
Every NFL team plays its division rivals twice each season. For Kansas City, that means:
- Denver Broncos (home and away)
- Las Vegas Raiders (home and away)
- Los Angeles Chargers (home and away)
These six games are guaranteed every year and form the foundation of the Chiefs’ schedule.
Rotational Afc Division (4 Games)
In 2026, the AFC West is scheduled to play the AFC East. This gives Kansas City four games against that division.
Rotational Nfc Division (4 Games)
The Chiefs will also play the NFC West in 2026, facing all four teams from that division once.
Sme-Place Games And The 17th Game (3 Games)
The final three games depend on Kansas City’s finish in the AFC West during the prior season. These include:
- One game vs an AFC North team
- One game vs an AFC South team
- One interconference 17th game vs an NFC South team
The higher the Chiefs finish in the division, the stronger the opponents they draw from those groups.
Kansas City Chiefs 2026 Opponents List
Confirmed And Projected Matchups
| Category | Opponent | Division | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC West | Denver Broncos | AFC West | Home & Away |
| AFC West | Los Angeles Chargers | AFC West | Home & Away |
| AFC West | Las Vegas Raiders | AFC West | Home & Away |
| AFC East | New England Patriots | AFC East | Home |
| AFC East | New York Jets | AFC East | Home |
| AFC East | Buffalo Bills | AFC East | Away |
| AFC East | Miami Dolphins | AFC East | Away |
| NFC West | Arizona Cardinals | NFC West | Home |
| NFC West | San Francisco 49ers | NFC West | Home |
| NFC West | Los Angeles Rams | NFC West | Away |
| NFC West | Seattle Seahawks | NFC West | Away |
| Same-Place Game | AFC North Team | AFC North | TBD |
| Same-Place Game | AFC South Team | AFC South | TBD |
| 17th Game | NFC South Team | NFC South | TBD |
Why The Tbd Games Matter
The three TBD games can significantly change the difficulty of the schedule. If Kansas City finishes first in the AFC West, they will face other first-place teams from the AFC North, AFC South, and NFC South. A second- or third-place finish would adjust those matchups accordingly.
This same-place system is designed to keep the league competitive by matching teams with similar recent performance.
What Makes The 2026 Schedule Notable
The Chiefs’ 2026 slate includes a demanding mix of elite AFC opponents and long-distance NFC road games. Traveling to face teams from both the East Coast and the West Coast creates a challenging balance of competition and travel.
Home games against high-profile opponents also make Arrowhead Stadium a major destination during the season.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2026 opponents are largely set, with 14 of the 17 games already determined by the NFL scheduling formula. The remaining three matchups will be finalized once division standings are known.
Overall, the Chiefs face a competitive schedule that blends familiar rivals, rotating division matchups, and performance-based opponents that reflect their place among the NFL’ stop teams.