Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
A 17-game 2021 NFL season schedule screws over the Kansas City Chiefs big time.
Even though the Kansas City Chiefs will be one of the best teams in the NFL again next season, here is how a 17-game 2021 slate hurts the defending AFC champions in 2021.
With the NFL expected to go to a 17-game format, there has been a great deal of discussion over what the 17th game will be. We already know how the other 16 will shake out: Six in-division (home and away), four vs. one intra-conference division, four vs. one inter-conference division and two competitive balance games within the conference. A 17th will resemble the latter two games.
The only difference is it will be inter-conference. So while Chiefs fans know they will play their three division rivals twice (six games), the AFC North in its entirety (four games), the NFC East in its entirety (four games) and the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans to suffice intra-conference competitive balance implications (two games), they will also have to play the Green Bay Packers…
The Kansas City Chiefs get one of the toughest 17th game draws for 2021
Though the game will reportedly be at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs will have to play the best 2020 NFC Division winners in Green Bay. Of course, they also draw the worst NFC Division winner from a year ago in the Washington Football Team due to the inter-conference divisional rotation. However, the Packers should be better than the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks.
Keep in mind the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not win the NFC South last year. Though they are the favorites to do so in 2021, Kansas City does not get to face a declining Saints team without Drew Brees or a Seahawks team we are not totally sure is still a playoff team. Seattle just lost at home to the rival Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card Round.
The Chiefs vs. the Packers will make up for the potential Super Bowl matchup many fans wanted.