2020 NFL schedule: Who will Chiefs host in Kickoff Game? Texans logical choice
The 2020 NFL schedule is out Thursday, and the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to host the Kickoff Game. Which team will be the opponent?
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The NFL is releasing its regular-season schedule on Thursday night just like everything is normal, which of course things are not normal in this country with the coronavirus. However, presuming it is status quo otherwise regarding the schedule, then the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will host the annual Kickoff Game on Thursday, Sept. 10.
Only twice since the NFL started this tradition has the reigning Super Bowl champion not hosted this game: Last year when the Bears hosted the Packers, but that was a special occasion as the NFL was celebrating the start of its 100th season and wanted the league's oldest rivalry in this spot; and in 2013 when Baltimore couldn't host because the Orioles were playing next door that night – so the Ravens played in Denver.
The Kansas City Royals did have a game scheduled for Sept. 10 at 12:35 p.m. ET against the visiting Oakland A's but moved it to avoid a logistics nightmare with Kauffman Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium right next to each other.
It's usually a marquee opponent against the Super Bowl champion, so rule out Chiefs 2020 home foes Carolina and the New York Jets. How about the New England Patriots? They will be a huge Week 1 story beginning life without Tom Brady, but does the NFL want to showcase Jarrett Stidham or Brian Hoyer?
Forget the Atlanta Falcons as the NFL rarely makes this game an interconference matchup. The Broncos? Chargers? Raiders? All were meh last year. History has shown the league also likes playoff rematches, so that leaves an easy choice: Houston.
In the Divisional Round in January at Arrowhead, the Chiefs found themselves down 24-0 early in the second quarter but stormed back beat the Texans 51-31. There's also the Deshaun Watson-Patrick Mahomes burgeoning rivalry.
Defending Super Bowl champions are 12-3 in the Kickoff Game. The Chiefs played in it to open 2017 and upset the Patriots in New England. The Texans never have.
Last regular season, Kansas City was 4-2 straight up and against the spread as a home favorite. The Chiefs were upset by Houston 31-24 in Week 6. K.C. was actually a home dog twice (it won't be for this game) when Mahomes was out injured.
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