It is a weird feeling in Kansas City right now. Usually, this time of year—mid-January—the city is buzzing with playoff fever. Red flags are everywhere. The smell of barbecue at Arrowhead is almost thick enough to see. But the reality of the Kansas City Chiefs next game is a stark, cold splash of water: there isn't one. Not for a while.
The Chiefs finished the 2025 season with a 6-11 record. It was painful. It was messy. Honestly, it was a season most fans want to delete from their memory banks. After a six-game losing streak to close out the year, culminating in a 14-12 loss to the Raiders on January 4, 2026, the reigning dynasty officially hit the "off" switch.
For the first time in what feels like a decade, the Chiefs are spectators during the Divisional Round. While teams like the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills are fighting for a spot in the AFC Championship, Andy Reid and Brett Veach are staring at draft boards and rehab schedules.
When is the Kansas City Chiefs next game actually happening?
If you are looking for a kickoff time this Sunday, you won't find one. The Kansas City Chiefs next game will be the 2026 season opener in September. While the NFL hasn't dropped the specific dates yet—that usually happens in May—we already know exactly who they are playing and where.
The 2026 schedule is locked in due to the NFL's rotating formula. Because the Chiefs finished third in the AFC West, they have a unique slate ahead.
- Home Opponents at Arrowhead: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, and the New York Jets.
- Away Opponents: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, and the Seattle Seahawks.
That 17th game? It's against the Atlanta Falcons on the road. It’s going to be a brutal travel schedule.
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The Patrick Mahomes Factor
Everything—and I mean everything—revolves around number 15. The reason the Chiefs aren't playing this weekend is largely because Patrick Mahomes went down in Week 15 against the Chargers. He tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee. It was one of those moments where the whole stadium just went silent.
Just yesterday, January 15, 2026, Mahomes finally spoke to the media. He looked tired but sounded like the same guy who has carried this franchise. He basically told everyone that his goal is to be back for Week 1.
"Long term, I want to be ready for Week 1," Mahomes told reporters. He’s about a month into his rehab. He even mentioned trying to do some light work during OTAs, which sounds insane given the typical nine-month recovery for a multi-ligament tear. But that’s Mahomes.
Doctors told him it's possible. It is not guaranteed. If he isn't ready, the Kansas City Chiefs next game becomes a very different conversation. Are we looking at a bridge quarterback? Does Brett Veach hunt for a high-end backup in free agency?
What went wrong in 2025?
You can't talk about the future without acknowledging the wreckage of the past season. A 6-11 record for a team led by Andy Reid is almost unheard of.
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The defense, led by Steve Spagnuolo, actually held its own for most of the year. They allowed about 21 points per game. That’s usually enough to win with this offense. But the offense wasn't "this offense."
The receiving corps struggled with drops again. The run game was inconsistent. Then the injuries started piling up. When Mahomes went down, the soul of the team seemed to travel with him to the training room. They didn't win another game after he exited that Chargers matchup.
The AFC West Power Shift
The landscape of the division has changed while the Chiefs were struggling. The Denver Broncos finished 14-3. Think about that. The Broncos are currently the top seed in the AFC and are hosting the Bills in the Divisional Round this weekend.
The Chargers also made the dance at 11-6. Kansas City went 1-5 in the division. That is the stat that should keep fans up at night. You can't dominate the league if you can't win in your own backyard.
What the Chiefs need to do before September
The "game" right now isn't on the field. It's in the front office.
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Veach has a lot of work to do. The roster needs a facelift. Specifically, they need a true WR1 who doesn't have a "drop" problem. They need depth on the offensive line to protect Mahomes’ rebuilt knee.
And then there's the coaching staff. Matt Nagy’s name has been tossed around for potential openings elsewhere, though after a 6-11 season, the "offensive genius" tag has lost some of its shine.
The Kansas City Chiefs next game is effectively a nine-month-long preparation for redemption.
The Draft and Free Agency
Because they finished with six wins, the Chiefs have a much higher draft pick than they are used to. They aren't picking at 32 or 31. They’ll be in the middle of the pack, which gives them a real chance to grab an elite playmaker or a cornerstone tackle.
People are already speculating. Do they go for a receiver like Travis Hunter if he's available? Or do they play it safe and beef up the trenches?
Actionable steps for Chiefs fans
Since there is no game this weekend, here is how you should handle the next few months as a fan.
- Watch the Divisional Round with an eye on the AFC West. Pay attention to how the Broncos and Bills play. These are the teams the Chiefs have to leapfrog next year.
- Monitor the Mahomes rehab updates. The team will likely release "fluff" videos of him walking or doing light drills in February and March. Take them with a grain of salt, but watch for his lateral movement.
- Prepare for the schedule release in May. That’s when we find out if the Kansas City Chiefs next game is a primetime Thursday night opener or a standard Sunday afternoon slot.
- Check the salary cap situation. The Chiefs have some tough decisions to make on aging veterans. Keeping the core together while adding speed is the priority.
The dynasty isn't dead, but it’s definitely in the shop for major repairs. The road to Super Bowl LXI in Santa Clara begins with a lot of physical therapy and a very long wait for September.