Sports and Recreation

Who will the Chiefs face in the NFL season opener? Let’s look at the candidates

The NFL is getting used to the Kansas City Chiefs winning Super Bowls, and as a result, it is getting used to the Chiefs playing the first game of the NFL season.

The Chiefs will host the opening game of the NFL regular season for the third time in five years, a reward each reigning champion enjoys. And once again, we’re wondering which opponent the Chiefs will get. The NFL typically tries to get a marquee opponent to face the champs and get the season going.

We know the eight candidates for opening night, since we have known each teams opponents for the 2024 season for months. Here is a guess at who will kick off the season at Kansas City

No shot: Saints, Broncos, Buccaneers

There wouldn’t be a lot of buzz for any of these teams. The Buccaneers would be the best of the group but … nah. The only reason any of these three teams would end up on opening night is the NFL knows that we’re all going to be watching even if Liberty North High School is the opponent.

Likely not but a slight chance: Chargers, Raiders

It’s rare for the NFL to make the opening game a divisional contest. The last time that happened was 2012 when the dallad cowboys played the new York Giants, The only other time was 2008, also with the Giants. Since we don’t have to worry about the NFL’s infatuation with the NFC East for this year’s opening game, it seems unlikely they’d match up the Chiefs with an AFC West opponent. Maybe Jim Harbaugh’s debut with the Chargers or the Raiders having been the last team to beat the Chiefs (and bragging a bit about it) might move the needle. But it seems unlikely.