Kansas City Chiefs 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

3. Vs. New England Patriots

The rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots has become one of the hottest in football in recent years. That rivalry takes a bit of a hit with Tom Brady off to Tampa Bay, but this game still means a ton to the Chiefs.

The Patriots had been the main roadblock to success for Kansas City in recent years, topping the Chiefs twice in 2018, including an overtime triumph at Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC Championship Game. That contest set the stage for an epic rematch in 2019 in New England, which Kansas City won to really kick off their surge to victory in Super Bowl LIV.

Even though the Patriots have quarterback questions without Brady, they still have head coach Bill Belichick patrolling the sidelines. Belichick, one of the best chess masters in the sport, is undoubtedly working hard right now at scheming up ways to slow down the Chiefs’ prolific offense.

Kansas City will also have to contend with the New England defense, which is still formidable thanks to the presence of playmakers like Stephon Gilmore. The Patriots will likely throw some kind of wrinkle at Mahomes that he hasn’t seen before, which should make things even more interesting.

This year’s contest takes place at Arrowhead Stadium and there is a chance it will be the game where the Chiefs raise their banner. That alone would make the game a must-win, but potential playoff implications mean beating New England is again an essential task for Kansas City.