Kansas City Chiefs 2023 schedule loaded with prime-time appearances, marquee matchups

The NFL schedule reinforced the idea that the Chiefs are among the game’s top attractions.

Staring with hosting the NFL Kickoff Game against the Detroit Lions, a position reserved for the Super Bowl champion, the Chiefs are scheduled to appear in a total of six prime-time games.

Only twice will a Chiefs game kick off at noon.

The opponents have been known since the end of last season, and some of the contests have been trickling out since Wednesday, but every team’s full 17-game schedule was released by the NFL on Thursday.

The NFL and Chiefs announced on Wednesday they’d be playing the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany on Nov. 5, plus that the Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders would start a Christmas Day triple-header at noon at Arrowhead.

The roll-out continued Thursday: Lions for the opener, the Super Bowl rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles in Kansas City on Nov. 20, on Monday Night Football, Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC Championship Game rematch at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on New Year’s Eve.

The Chiefs also announced their preseason opponents, although the dates haven’t been set. Their first game will be at the New Orleans Saints, followed by a trip to the Arizona Cardinals. The Chiefs’ only home opponent will be the Cleveland Browns in the third preseason game.

Chiefs single-game and group tickets go on sale Friday, with more information available at chiefs.com.

Highlights from the Chiefs’ 2023 NFL schedule:

A Week 4 contest at the New York Jets matches Patrick Mahomes against new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The teams of those quarterbacks have met twice, but because of injuries — one to Mahomes in 2019 and one to Rodgers in 2021 — the only time they’ve faced off is on a golf course.

The Chiefs will finish the season on on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers. The NFL won’t announce the date — either Jan. 6 or 7 — until later in the season.

The Chiefs will meet the Denver Broncos twice over a three-game span, starting with a Thursday Night Football contest in Denver on Oct. 12.

Chiefs’ full NFL schedule:

Sept. 7 — Detroit Lions, 7:20 p.m.

Sept. 17 — at Jacksonville Jaguars, noon

Sept. 24 — Chicago Bears, 3:25 p.m.

Oct. 1 — at New York Jets, 7:20 p.m.

Oct. 8 — at Minnesota Vikings, 3:25 p.m.

Oct. 12 — Denver Broncos, 7:20 p.m.

Oct. 22 — Los Angeles Chargers, 3:25 p.m.

Oct. 29 — at Denver Broncos, 3:25 p.m.

Nov. 5 — Miami Dolphins at Frankfurt, Germany, 8:30 a.m.

Nov 12 — Bye

Nov. 20 — Philadelphia Eagles, 7:15 p.m.

Nov. 26 — at Las Vegas Raiders, 3:25 p.m.

Dec. 3 — at Green Bay Packers, 7:20 p.m.

Dec. 10 — Buffalo Bills, 3:25 p.m.

Dec. 18 — at New England Patriots, 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 25 — Las Vegas Raiders, noon

Dec. 31 — Cincinnati Bengals, 3:25 p.m.

Jan. 6/7 — at Los Angeles Chargers, TBD