Following last year’s stunning loss in the AFC Championship Game, the Kansas City Chiefs enter 2022 facing the reality of a re-loaded AFC West and the league’s fifth-most difficult schedule (based on opponents’ 2021 winning percentage). They have NFL odds of +1000 to win the Super Bowl.
Of course, the central talking point heading into the season is how the Chiefs offense will look without All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins after contract negotiations broke down. While superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes is undoubtedly capable of lifting the play of those around him, Hill’s game-breaking ability is nearly impossible to replace.
Mahomes’s brilliance should allow KC to put up a fair amount of points, but his absence will be noticeable.
#chiefs HC Andy Reid sat down with us on @nflnetwork. He had a really interesting comment on Patrick Mahomes. How his QBs love of teaching allowed this offense to take a greater step than expected this offseason when he worked privately with the WRs. That and more right here???? pic.twitter.com/iZi1udiqJD
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) August 9, 2022
Here’s how the Chiefs’ 2022 regular season schedule shakes out.
Week 1 @ Arizona Cardinals
Date:'Sunday, September 11
Time:'4:25 p.m. ET
Patrick Mahomes battles his old college coach in Arizona’s Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury coached Mahomes for three seasons during the pair’s time at Texas Tech (2014-16).
The Cardinals will be without star wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who is suspended for the first six games due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Week 2 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Date:'Thursday, September 15
Time:'8:15 p.m. ET
Kansas City’s home opener is a primetime showdown against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers, who upset the Chiefs 30-24 on the road in Week 3 of last season.
Week 3 @ Indianapolis Colts
Date:'Sunday, September 25
Time:'1:00 p.m. ET