The Washington Commanders surprised many around the league by winning double-digit games for the first time since 2012 and coming one victory away from reaching the Super Bowl. Now, there are higher expectations for the squad in the second year of the Jayden Daniels era.

The Commanders will have a tougher schedule this year by virtue of finishing second in the NFC East. Super Bowl contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions loom later in the year along with talented teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. They will also experience a dramatic increase in travel miles, which includes a trip to Europe to play the Miami Dolphins.

Now that the season is on the horizon, Commanders.com is going to break down each of Washington's opponents. We'll move on to the Kansas City Chiefs, who continue to be one of the NFL's powerhouse squads.

Game information

Date: Oct. 27
Time: 8:15 p.m.
Location: Arrowhead Stadium

Individual stat leaders

• Passing Yards -- QB Patrick Mahomes (3,928)
• Passing TDs -- QB Patrick Mahomes (26)
• Rushing Yards -- RB Kareem Hunt (728)
• Rushing TDs -- RB Kareem Hunt (7)
• Receiving Yards -- TE Travis Kelce (823)
• Receiving TDs -- WR Xavier Worthy (6)
• Tackles -- LB Nick Bolton (106)
• Sacks -- DE George Karlaftis (8)
• Interceptions -- S Jaden Hicks (3)

Key additions

• CB Kristian Fulton (free agency)
• RB Elijah Moore (free agency)
• T Jaylon Moore (free agency)
• T Josh Simmons (draft)
• WR Jalen Royals (draft)

Key questions

• Can the Chiefs protect Mahomes? It seems to be one of the biggest issues the Chiefs have dealt with over the years. Like their Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, Mahomes struggled to find open targets because he was harassed by the Philadelphia Eagles' pass rush in Super Bowl LVII. Mahomes was sacked six times and threw two interceptions with a QBR of 11.4. And in another moment of history repeating itself, the Chiefs spent the offseason overhauling their offensive line. They traded Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears, signed Moore and drafted Simmons, hoping they can provide Mahomes with more time to operate and run the offense. The approach has worked for them before; after reworking the position in 2021, Mahomes led the league in passing yards and touchdowns while leading his team to a Super Bowl victory. The Chiefs are not quite as stacked as they were in previous years, but providing the league's best quarterback with more time should elevate the entire unit.
• Will the Chiefs' wide receivers step up? The Chiefs had 10 one-score victories last season, and part of the reason why they struggled to put teams away is because their receiver room was not as talented or productive as it once was. They were 14th in passing yards per game last season -- a stark contrast from the top 10 production they got in 2020-24. None of their receivers topped 700 yards, and while players like Worthy and Rashee Rice show promise, the Chiefs need more from their receivers if they hope to beat the likes of the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.
• How much does Chris Jones have left? Although Jones got his third straight First Team All-Pro selection in 2024, his production took a noticeable step back, as he recorded five sacks -- his lowest total since 2017 -- with 37 tackles. Jones is still one of the best defensive players in the league, but at 31 years old, it is reasonable to wonder how much longer he will suit up for Kansas City. Stats never tell the full story for a defensive tackle; Jones demands a lot of attention from offensive linemen, which allows his teammates to get free and make plays. So, perhaps the 2024 season was just an aberration for the six-time Pro Bowler. He's under contract for another four seasons, at which point he will be 35 years old.