# 2020 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2020 [Kansas City Chiefs](https://www.edgepedia.org/kansas-city-chiefs) season was the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) franchise's 51st season, in which the defending [Super Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl) champions finished 14-2, first in the AFC West, and reached Super Bowl LV, where they lost 31-9 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/2020.htm) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-lv-biggest-highlight-lowlight-from-chiefs-buccaneers) The 14 wins were a franchise best for a single regular season, achieved in head coach Andy Reid's eighth season with the team.[3](https://operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | 14-2, 1st of 4 in the AFC West; 473 points scored, 362 allowed[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/2020.htm) • [4](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/index.htm) |
| Coaching staff | Head coach Andy Reid; offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy; defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/2020.htm) |
| Regular-season opener | 34-20 home win over the Houston Texans on Thursday, September 10, 2020[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs) |
| Only losses | 40-32 to the Las Vegas Raiders (Week 5) and 38-21 to the Los Angeles Chargers (Week 17)[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs) |
| Playoffs | Divisional win 22-17 over Cleveland; AFC Championship win 38-24 over Buffalo; lost Super Bowl LV 31-9 to Tampa Bay[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs) |
| Leading passer | Patrick Mahomes, 4,740 passing yards[6](https://www.chiefs.com/team/stats/2020/REG) |
| Leading rusher | Clyde Edwards-Helaire, 803 rushing yards[6](https://www.chiefs.com/team/stats/2020/REG) |
| Contract landmark | Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year, $450 million contract with the Chiefs in 2020[7](https://apnews.com/article/970e980738a6696f0e5e64d907a2ff12) |
## Context and expectations
Kansas City entered the season as the reigning NFL champion. The Chiefs had won [Super Bowl LIV](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-liv) on February 2, 2020, defeating the [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-49ers) 31-20 for the franchise's first title in 50 years, with [Patrick Mahomes](https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-mahomes) named the game's MVP.[8](https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-rally-to-win-super-bowl-liv-31-20-and-secure-world-championship) The stated aim for 2020 was to become the NFL's first repeat champion since the 2003-04 New England Patriots.[9](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/chiefs/2020)
The NFL released its 2020 schedule in May 2020 with the defending champions hosting the [Houston Texans](https://www.edgepedia.org/houston-texans) in the September 10 opener, and the league operated on the assumption that a full season would be played during the coronavirus pandemic.[10](https://www.axios.com/2020/05/08/nfl-schedule-release-coronavirus-changes) In July 2020, Mahomes signed a 10-year, $450 million contract that, according to the Associated Press, set a benchmark not only for the quarterback position but for any football player.[7](https://apnews.com/article/970e980738a6696f0e5e64d907a2ff12)
## Regular season
**A 14-1 start.** Kansas City opened with a 34-20 home win over Houston on Thursday, September 10, then won at the Chargers (23-20), at Baltimore (34-20), and at home against New England (26-10) to reach 4-0.[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs) The first loss came in Week 5, when the [Las Vegas Raiders](https://www.edgepedia.org/las-vegas-raiders) won 40-32 at [Arrowhead Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/arrowhead-stadium) on October 11.[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs)
The team then ran off ten consecutive victories. The streak included a 26-17 Monday night win at Buffalo in Week 6, a 43-16 win at Denver, a 35-9 win over the Jets, a 33-31 escape against Carolina, a 35-31 rematch win at Las Vegas, a 27-24 win at [Tampa Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-bay) in Week 12, a 22-16 win over Denver, a 33-27 win at Miami, a 32-29 win at New Orleans, and a 17-14 home win over Atlanta in Week 16 that lifted the Chiefs to 14-1.[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs) [The Week](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-week) 10 bye fell between the Carolina and Las Vegas games.[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs)
**Week 17 rest.** With the AFC's top seed already secured, Kansas City lost the finale at home to the [Los Angeles Chargers](https://www.edgepedia.org/los-angeles-chargers), 38-21, on January 3, 2021, closing the regular season at 14-2.[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs) With those 14 regular-season wins, a new franchise high, Reid reached 91 wins over his first eight years in Kansas City, a total no other head coach in team history had matched across that span.[3](https://operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf)
Individually, Mahomes threw for 4,740 yards and [Chad Henne](https://www.edgepedia.org/chad-henne) added 248 passing yards in reserve, while rookie running back [Clyde Edwards-Helaire](https://www.edgepedia.org/clyde-edwards-helaire) led the team with 803 rushing yards.[6](https://www.chiefs.com/team/stats/2020/REG)
## Playoffs
**Divisional round.** The Chiefs hosted the [Cleveland Browns](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland-browns) on January 17, 2021, and won 22-17 to advance.[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs)
**AFC Championship.** On January 24, Kansas City beat the Buffalo Bills 38-24 at home, marking the franchise's third consecutive appearance in the AFC Championship Game and sending the Chiefs to their second consecutive Super Bowl.[5](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs) • [3](https://operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf)
**Super Bowl LV.** The Chiefs faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on February 7, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The game marked the first time in NFL history that a team played a Super Bowl in its home stadium, a position Tampa Bay earned by winning three road playoff games as the NFC's fifth seed.[11](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2020) Tampa Bay won 31-9, keeping the Chiefs out of the end zone while Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-lv-biggest-highlight-lowlight-from-chiefs-buccaneers) • [12](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/kvrfxcgtvtx7xmz8tugo.pdf)
Kansas City's protection broke down under Tampa Bay's pass rush. The Chiefs' offensive tackles allowed 18 pressures in the game, the most in a postseason game since 2010 according to Pro Football Focus, and Kansas City was relying on a line with three different blockers playing in spots they had not occupied when the season began.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-lv-biggest-highlight-lowlight-from-chiefs-buccaneers) • [13](https://www.nfl.com/news/patrick-mahomes-human-after-all-as-chiefs-fall-to-buccaneers-in-super-bowl-lv) Mahomes finished the game with no touchdown passes as the Buccaneers' defense stymied the league's most explosive offense.[12](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/kvrfxcgtvtx7xmz8tugo.pdf)
## Season assessment
The season paired the best regular-season record in franchise history with a lopsided final defeat. Kansas City scored 473 points and allowed 362 in the regular season, a positive differential of 111 points, and won its division by a wide margin.[4](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/index.htm) • [1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/2020.htm) The Super Bowl loss, in which the offense managed only field goals, ended the bid for back-to-back titles and left the Chiefs to address protection and roster depth in the following offseason.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-lv-biggest-highlight-lowlight-from-chiefs-buccaneers) • [13](https://www.nfl.com/news/patrick-mahomes-human-after-all-as-chiefs-fall-to-buccaneers-in-super-bowl-lv) The franchise next returned to the Super Bowl after the 2022 season, defeating Philadelphia in Super Bowl LVII in February 2023, and won Super Bowl LVIII the following year.[14](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/chiefs) • [15](https://www.therams.com/news/super-bowl-lvi-game-recap-vs-bengals-matthew-stafford-cooper-kupp-aaron-donald)
## References
1. [2020 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/2020.htm)
2. [Super Bowl LV: Biggest highlight, lowlight from Buccaneers' victory over Chiefs, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-lv-biggest-highlight-lowlight-from-chiefs-buccaneers)
3. [Kansas City Chiefs, 2022 Record and Fact Book, NFL Operations](https://operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf)
4. [Kansas City Chiefs Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/index.htm)
5. [NFL 2020 Kansas City Chiefs Schedule, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2020/by-team/kansas-city-chiefs)
6. [Kansas City Chiefs Official Team Website, 2020 Regular Season Stats, Chiefs.com](https://www.chiefs.com/team/stats/2020/REG)
7. [Chiefs lock in Patrick Mahomes through 2033 with a $504.75M reworked deal, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/970e980738a6696f0e5e64d907a2ff12)
8. [Chiefs Rally to Win Super Bowl LIV, 31-20, and Secure World Championship, Chiefs.com](https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-rally-to-win-super-bowl-liv-31-20-and-secure-world-championship)
9. [2020 Kansas City Chiefs, Pro Football Rewind](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/chiefs/2020)
10. [NFL releases its 2020 schedule, Axios](https://www.axios.com/2020/05/08/nfl-schedule-release-coronavirus-changes)
11. [2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season: Super Bowl LV Champions, Buccaneers.com](https://www.buccaneers.com/team/history/2020)
12. [Super Bowl Summaries, NFL club media PDF](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/kvrfxcgtvtx7xmz8tugo.pdf)
13. [Patrick Mahomes human after all, as Chiefs fall to Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/patrick-mahomes-human-after-all-as-chiefs-fall-to-buccaneers-in-super-bowl-lv)
14. [Kansas City Chiefs Historical Timeline, Pro Football Rewind](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/chiefs)
15. [Game Recap: Matthew Stafford's fourth-quarter, go-ahead touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald's fourth-down pressure lifts Rams to 23-20 victory over Bengals in Super Bowl LVI](https://www.therams.com/news/super-bowl-lvi-game-recap-vs-bengals-matthew-stafford-cooper-kupp-aaron-donald)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › National Football League › NFL teams and franchises › NFL team seasons 2020 to present*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license