KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs clinching the AFC West finalized the last two spots on the club's 2019 schedule, setting up a road trip against the New England Patriots and bringing the Baltimore Ravens to Arrowhead Stadium.
This marks the third-straight season the Chiefs will travel to New England to face the Patriots. The two clubs will meet for a fourth season in a row during 2020 when the NFL scheduling grid finally brings the Patriots to Kansas City.
The Ravens wining the AFC North means the Chiefs will host them for the second-straight season.
The team's 2019 schedule includes home-and-away games against their three AFC West rivals: the Denver Broncos, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Oakland Raiders. The location of the trip at Oakland remains up in the air with the Raiders unlikely to return to the Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders are reportedly considering hosting their homes games in London next season.
Kansas City will also play all four teams in the AFC South and the NFC North next season. The home schedule includes visits by four 2018 playoff teams: the Chargers, Houston, Indianapolis and Baltimore. Green Bay and Minnesota also visit Arrowhead Stadium.
Road trips for the Chiefs in 2019 include visits to Jacksonville, Tennessee, Chicago and Detroit.
The NFL has a 12-year schedule matrix that ensures that each team plays all 31 other teams within a four-year period. The matrix uses a two-year cycle on the two intraconference games paired based on standings the previous season. The Chiefs are entering the second year of a two-year cycle where they play on the road against the team that finished in the same position as them in the AFC East. That's why the Chiefs must travel to New England again.
The Chiefs play the entire AFC East in 2020, which includes hosting the Patriots at home. If the Chiefs and Patriots finish in the same positions in 2021 and 2022, the Patriots will visit Kansas City three-straight seasons.
The NFL typically announces select games including international series as early as January with the full schedule including dates and times unveiled in April.
Updated: The NFL has announced the Chiefs and Chargers will play the Chargers home game at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Here is the full list of Chiefs opponents for the 2019 season:
Home: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens
Road: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers (in Mexico City), Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots
