Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Kickoff: 8:15 PM
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match Facts
- League
- National Football League
- Week
- Week 1
- Date
- 09/14/2026
- Venue
- Arrowhead Stadium
The new season gets going with a familiar AFC West party on September 14, when the Denver Broncos pull up to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for a Week 1 meeting with the Chiefs. The two sides arrive with very different stories from last season: Denver finished 14-3 and swept the Chiefs in their two 2025 meetings, while Kansas City stumbled to 6-11. It is the kind of divisional opener that can set the mood for the whole table.
The most telling number between these two is the gap in fortune – Denver closed last season at 14-3 and won both head-to-head meetings, while Kansas City finished 6-11 and lost each of its final five.
Head-to-Head
| Date | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 12/26/2025 | Denver Broncos 20 @ 13 Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 11/16/2025 | Kansas City Chiefs 19 @ 22 Denver Broncos | at Denver Broncos |
Season form
Denver enters the opener as the class of the AFC West, having gone 14-3 last season and ranked first in the division. Their closing stretch ran L-W-W-W-L across the final five, with a 20-13 statement win over the Chiefs in Week 17 before the season ended on a narrow loss to the Patriots. Kansas City, by contrast, finished 6-11 and third in the division, closing the year with five straight losses – a slide that started on December 8 against Houston and ran through the regular-season finale against Las Vegas.
Offense vs defense
The numbers from last season show two evenly matched attacks with different results on the scoreboard. Denver put up 401 points and allowed 311, while the Chiefs scored 362 and conceded 328. Denver gained 4,188 yards through the air and 2,167 on the ground, compared with Kansas City’s 3,639 passing and 1,812 rushing yards. On defense, the Broncos piled up 76 sacks to the Chiefs’ 35, a gap the home crowd at Arrowhead will be keen to see close.
Head-to-head history
The two divisional meetings last season belonged to the visiting side on both occasions. In Week 11, on November 16 at Denver, the Broncos beat the Chiefs 22-19. Then in Week 17, on December 26 at Kansas City, Denver came away with a 20-13 win. Both games were tight, physical AFC West battles decided in the fourth quarter.
Last meeting
The most recent meeting came in Week 17 of last season, on December 26 at Arrowhead Stadium. Denver took that one 20-13, spoiling the Chiefs’ home date and carrying momentum into the playoffs. For Kansas City, it was the second loss of a five-game slide, and the memory of that December night is fresh on both sides as the season opens at the same venue.
When and where do the Broncos and Chiefs play in Week 1?
The two teams open the season on September 14 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. It is a Week 1 divisional matchup that gets the AFC West going right away.
What was the Broncos’ record last season?
Denver finished 14-3 last season, ranked first in the AFC West. They scored 401 points and allowed 311.
What was the Chiefs’ record last season?
Kansas City went 6-11 last season and finished third in the AFC West. They scored 362 points and allowed 328.
Who won the last meeting between these teams?
Denver won the most recent meeting 20-13 at Kansas City in Week 17 of last season, on December 26. The Broncos also won the earlier meeting in Week 11 by a 22-19 score.
How did the two teams finish the regular season?
Denver won three of its last five games before a narrow loss to the Patriots, while Kansas City lost all five of its final regular-season games.
Next Match
Week 1 · Arrowhead Stadium · Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs
Regular Season NFL match-ups by week 272 games ▾
▼ Week 1 16 games
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Thu, Sep 10 |
|
Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Sun, Sep 13 |
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Mon, Sep 14 |
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Date TBD |
▼ Week 2 16 games
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Thu, Sep 17 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Sun, Sep 20 |
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Mon, Sep 21 |
▼ Week 3 16 games
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Thu, Sep 24 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Sun, Sep 27 |
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Mon, Sep 28 |
▼ Week 4 16 games
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Thu, Oct 1 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Sun, Oct 4 |
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Mon, Oct 5 |
▼ Week 5 15 games
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Thu, Oct 8 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Sun, Oct 11 |
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Mon, Oct 12 |
▼ Week 6 14 games
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Thu, Oct 15 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Sun, Oct 18 |
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Mon, Oct 19 |
▼ Week 7 14 games
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Thu, Oct 22 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Sun, Oct 25 |
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Mon, Oct 26 |
▼ Week 8 14 games
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Thu, Oct 29 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Sun, Nov 1 |
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Mon, Nov 2 |
▼ Week 9 15 games
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Thu, Nov 5 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Sun, Nov 8 |
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Mon, Nov 9 |
▼ Week 10 14 games
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Thu, Nov 12 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Sun, Nov 15 |
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Mon, Nov 16 |
▼ Week 11 13 games
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Thu, Nov 19 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Sun, Nov 22 |
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Mon, Nov 23 |
▼ Week 12 16 games
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Wed, Nov 25 |
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Thu, Nov 26 |
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Thu, Nov 26 |
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Thu, Nov 26 |
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Fri, Nov 27 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Sun, Nov 29 |
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Mon, Nov 30 |
▼ Week 13 14 games
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Thu, Dec 3 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Sun, Dec 6 |
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Mon, Dec 7 |
▼ Week 14 15 games
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Thu, Dec 10 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Sun, Dec 13 |
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Mon, Dec 14 |
▼ Week 15 16 games
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Thu, Dec 17 |
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Sat, Dec 19 |
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Sat, Dec 19 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Sun, Dec 20 |
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Mon, Dec 21 |
▼ Week 16 16 games
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Thu, Dec 24 |
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Fri, Dec 25 |
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Fri, Dec 25 |
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Fri, Dec 25 |
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Sat, Dec 26 |
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Sun, Dec 27 |
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Sun, Dec 27 |
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Sun, Dec 27 |
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Sun, Dec 27 |
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Sun, Dec 27 |
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Sun, Dec 27 |
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Sun, Dec 27 |
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Mon, Dec 28 |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
▼ Week 17 16 games
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Thu, Dec 31 |
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Sat, Jan 2 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Sun, Jan 3 |
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Mon, Jan 4 |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
▼ Week 18 16 games
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Sun, Jan 10 |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |
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Date TBD |