KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 schedule was released along with the rest of the NFL slate Thursday.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs begin the 2023 NFL season with a game against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 7 at Arrowhead Stadium in the traditional Thursday night prime-time game for the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Chiefs have eight games against 2022 playoff teams and will play six prime-time games, including a rematch of their Super Bowl LVII win over the Philadelphia Eagles on a Monday night in Week 11 at Arrowhead.

Here's what's in store for the Chiefs:

Schedule

Sept. 7: vs. Detroit (TNF)

Sept. 17: at Jacksonville

Sept. 24: vs. Chicago

Oct. 1: at New York Jets (SNF)

Oct. 8: at Minnesota

Oct. 12: vs. Denver (TNF)

Oct. 22: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Oct. 29: at Denver

Nov. 5: vs. Miami (Frankfurt, Germany)

Nov. 12: BYE

Nov. 20: vs. Philadelphia (MNF)

Nov. 26: at Las Vegas

Dec. 3: at Green Bay (SNF)

Dec. 10: vs. Buffalo

Dec. 18: at New England (MNF)

Dec. 25: vs. Las Vegas

Dec. 31: vs. Cincinnati

Jan. 7: at Los Angeles Chargers

Strength of schedule: .514 (16th-toughest)

Over/Under: 11.5

Biggest takeaway

The Chiefs need to get off to a fast start. They will play against most of their toughest opponents in the final 11 games of the season. This stretch features matchups against the Los Angeles Chargers (twice), Miami Dolphins, Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.

Revenge game

Between references to Kansas City’s stadium as “Burrowhead” by Cincinnati players, insults from the Cincinnati mayor and a three-game losing streak to Cincinnati that was broken in last year’s AFC Championship Game, the Chiefs don’t have much love for the Bengals. So assuming both teams to be in the postseason chase, the New Year’s Eve game between the teams in Week 17 at Arrowhead will carry more than the typical late-season playoff and seeding implications. The Chiefs and Bengals could again be sizing one another up for a third straight AFC title game. Both were decided by a late field goal with each team winning once.

Bold prediction

The Chiefs in Andy Reid’s 10 years have a season-opening win streak of nine games, two of five games and two of four games. They will have another similar start in 2023. If there’s an extended soft part of the schedule, it’s the first eight games, which brings only three matchups against 2022 playoff teams. A 3-0 start looks likely, and the Chiefs could easily be undefeated heading into a Week 7 game against the Chargers.