After a grueling first half, the Kansas City Chiefs’ post-bye schedule sets them up perfectly for another deep playoff run.

NFL slowly leaking games

With the 2025 NFL schedule dropping earlier this week, we can now analyze our teams’ future success and predict their run to the Lombardi.

The NFL offseason presents unique challenges with free agents, retirements, draft picks, and player egos, meaning every team has a shot at making it to the NFL’s mountaintop.

Now that we have a chance to look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 opponents, we can finally determine what stretch of the schedule will provide the least amount of resistance to KC’s title hopes. Let’s zoom in on the weeks immediately following the bye week.

After a grueling first half, the Kansas City Chiefs’ post-bye schedule sets them up perfectly for another deep playoff run.
Known as Andy Reid’s coming-out party season after season, his teams are 21-4 following their in-season bye week—the best mark in that department in NFL history. In 2025, it looks like Reid will extend that record to 22-4.

Following the bye, the Chiefs play the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, and Las Vegas Raiders.

This stretch of games poses the easiest run for the defending AFC champs, especially when compared to their schedule before the bye week.

Ahead of their Week 10 bye, the Chiefs play the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, and Buffalo Bills—all playoff teams from a year ago. Compare that to their second-half schedule, where only the Texans, Broncos, and Chargers made the postseason in 2024.

While each of these teams has made adjustments since last season, they combined for a 53-66 record in 2024, and a few of those teams are likely to repeat their fortunes in 2025 (looking at you, Titans and Colts).

Considering only two teams finished 2024 with a positive point differential (Broncos and Chargers), the trendline will likely skew toward .500 ball for most of these teams.

With a Chiefs team looking for revenge from a demoralizing loss in the Super Bowl, this stretch run heading into the postseason looks to be a perfect recipe for returning to the biggest stage for a fourth straight year.