Ranking best Arrowhead games to watch when 2021 Chiefs schedule unveiled

NFL releasing schedule May 12 with nine home games for Kansas City

It’s almost that time again, Chiefs fans. The NFL’s 2021 schedule comes out Wednesday, May 12, giving a full scope of the Chiefs’ home and away slate, the bye week, the quick turn-around Thursday night game and the new 17th regular-season game.

Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said he wants to have fans at 100 percent capacity of the newly rebranded GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for 2021, so Wednesday’s announcement could bring about a flurry of attendance plans for the Chiefs faithful.

We know that the Chiefs will be on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, Washington Football Team and their usual AFC West opponents. That leaves nine home games (with the additional Week 18 affair this year) for Chiefs fans to choose from. Ahead of Wednesday’s schedule release, I’m going to rank the Chiefs’ home games worst-to-first for fans to hit up this 2021 season. Let’s get to it!

9. New York Giants
With no disrespect meant to Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, the 2021 Giants likely won’t strike fear into the hearts of the reigning AFC Champs. They have a lot of young talent on the roster and an emerging defense under head coach Joe Judge but are likely a year or two away from being a major threat. This feels like a laid-back noon game with some casual tailgating and a loud crowd, but not at its peak.

8. Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott is back and the Cowboys offense should be healthy in 2021. On paper, this looks to be a terrific matchup between the Chiefs defense and the Cowboys offense. Steve Spagnuolo will have his hands full with Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Ezekiel Elliot. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, the matchup isn’t in their favor on the other side of the ball. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense should score early and often, leading to fireworks for the Chiefs fans in attendance. Cowboys’ fans are sprinkled throughout the country, so Arrowhead may not be as loud as some other games, but the home fans should be pleased nonetheless.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have some quality offensive weapons in Chase Claypool, Dionate Johnson and Juju Smith Schuster — and added two more in running back Najee Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth. They also boast some terrific defenders in TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Devin Bush Jr. However, the team is still starting Ben Roethlisberger, who hasn’t been the same quarterback in recent years. Pittsburgh fans travel well, so this could be a wild atmosphere in Arrowhead with a few more opposing fans in attendance. There’s plenty of animosity toward the Steelers from this Chiefs fanbase, so this one could be electric — especially if it lands in primetime.

6. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have been crowned the winners of the 2021 offseason by quite a few publications, and there’s reason to believe this team should be in the playoff mix again this year. After losing to the Chiefs in the Divisional Round, they had a strong free-agency period and an excellent draft class. Their terrific offensive line, top-notch rushing attack and play-action passing game should keep them in contention in this game. However, there’s not much animosity toward the Browns from Chiefs fans, especially after beating Cleveland in the Divisional Round last year. This should be a competitive game and will offer plenty of talking points, but feels like a sneaky “low-energy” game in the stadium — especially if it’s in a mid-season noon slot.

5. Los Angeles Chargers
Speaking of offseason champions, the Chargers once again have a terrific team on paper. They have a quarterback in Justin Herbert that can keep them in games, good weapons and a defense with high potential in the front seven. However, their repeated failings and inability to be a true contender to the AFC West crown year after year has zapped some of the vitriol from this contest for some fans. Divisional games are never easy and always have good stadium energy behind them, but of the three AFC West opponents the Chargers games have seen a bit of a dip in overall fan excitement in recent years.

4. Denver Broncos
The Broncos truly are a quarterback away from competing in the AFC West. They have a strong roster of offensive weapons, a developing offensive line and a strong secondary to try to contain Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. Unfortunately, Drew Lock has not made the expected strides in his game yet and Teddy Bridgewater will not likely be what pushes this team over the top. However, divisional rival games are always terrific in Arrowhead and this should be no different. Expect a pumped-up crowd, some over-the-top tailgating and a closer-than-expected contest in this one, making it one to circle on the calendar for out-of-town fans.

3. Green Bay Packers
This is a potential wildcard in my rankings. The Packers are one of the NFC’s best teams and will be competing for the No. 1 seed to get the bye into the playoffs, meaning this game has massive implications for both teams — unless Aaron Rodgers doesn’t play in 2021. If he does, the Rodgers/Mahomes storylines will practically write themselves, and this has-to-be-in-primetime game will draw a massive, loud Arrowhead crowd. I expect some all-day tailgating, raucous fans and an ultra-competitive game, putting it very high on the list of must-attend games this year. However, the threat of Rodgers’ holdout or trade makes this a risky choice to snap up tickets on release day. (Side note: move Denver to No. 2 on this list if Rodgers gets traded there this offseason).

2. Buffalo Bills
I am ecstatic that we get a regular-season Bills-Chiefs game this year. Much like the Ravens, Texans, Patriots and Colts in recent history, this Bills team is projected to be amongst the AFC’s best and should give us a sneak peek at a potential playoff matchup. I could see this being projected as a late-season primetime game or an early-season midday matchup -- potentially even the home opener. This Chiefs/Bills rivalry is just developing, and the Bills fanbase is so passionate that the natural back-and-forth should be terrific. A rowdy crowd, meaningful game and a likely featured spot on the Chiefs schedule could make these tickets sell out quickly. If Chiefs fans can find tickets for this one, they’ll want to be in the building for one of the marquee matchups of the season.

1. Las Vegas Raiders
Put this game in primetime and park a bus behind the Chiefs bench to remind Jon Gruden of his mistake. There’s no love lost between the Chiefs and the Raiders after last year’s stunt, and two high-scoring close games between divisional rivals will add fuel to the fire for this Chiefs team. Las Vegas likely won’t have the best team that Andy Reid and company will see next year but that won’t matter for this experience. I expect a full-throttle effort from whistle-to-whistle from this Chiefs team and a group of fans that won’t let the Raiders forget whose house in which they are. This screams a Thursday night primetime matchup, making the crowd even more raucous under the lights. Arrowhead is going to take its amplitude to the next level for this one, and that’s why it tops this year’s list.