3 things the NFL schedule makers got wrong for the Chiefs

2. Delaying a must-see quarterback duel

The Cincinnati Bengals, behind star quarterback Joe Burrow, are the last AFC team to defeat the Chiefs in the postseason. For all the hype we see when Mahomes plays against Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills or Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, head-to-head games against Burrow feel a different level of personal because of the playoff history. Pairings between Mahomes and Burrow also feel more special because they have not happened as frequently as the other AFC rivalries. This is partially due to Burrow’s injury history, which has seen him miss significant portions of the season three times in his six-year career.

3. The earliest possible bye

The Chiefs will be off as soon as fantasy owners have to start paying attention to player byes in Week 5. Over half of their remaining 13 consecutive weeks of football will feature games against 2025 playoff teams. This includes both of last year’s Super Bowl teams — the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Someone has to be scheduled for the bye first, but it seems particularly unfortunate for the Chiefs. The team will face questions throughout the season about how they are managing Mahomes. The Chiefs will also need aging stars in defensive tackle Chris Jones and tight end Travis Kelce to stay fresh for a potential playoff run. Another issue is that Kansas City will be depending on rookies to take significant defensive snaps. Many first-year players feel the grinding effects of the NFL late in the year — at the time their bodies are accustomed to the season being over. The rookies will effectively play an entire college season following the off week, with the playoffs hopefully following. Kansas City will likely spin the early bye as a positive. Perhaps it will benefit Mahomes to get an early week off after playing the season’s first month. The Chiefs will also have 10 days between their Week 13 game against the Los Angeles Rams and their game against the Bengals. There will also be a rest advantage in Week 6 over the Los Angeles Chargers, who will probably be coming off of a physically grueling game against the Broncos. The team will say the right things, but this squad could have benefited from a scheduled break later in the season. *Do you have any other gripes about the schedule? Let us know in the comments.*