You’ve probably been clicking through your guide for the last ten minutes. Maybe you even checked the local CBS affiliate or scrolled through the "Live & Upcoming" tab on Paramount+ only to see a bunch of daytime talk shows or infomercials. Honestly, it’s frustrating. You want to know what channel are the chiefs playing on, but the reality is a little bit of a bummer for the Kingdom this week.
The Kansas City Chiefs are not playing today, January 14, 2026.
If you feel like you missed something, don't sweat it. The NFL postseason is currently in full swing, but for the first time in over a decade, the Chiefs aren't a part of the January madness. After a tough regular season that saw the team finish 6-11, Kansas City was officially eliminated from playoff contention following their Week 18 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on January 4.
Where is the Chiefs game?
Because the Chiefs didn't make the cut for the 2025-2026 postseason, there is no "channel" for them today. Usually, by mid-January, we’re used to seeing Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid prepping for a Divisional Round showdown on CBS or NBC. Instead, the team has already headed home for the offseason.
Head coach Andy Reid hasn't had to start the evaluation process this early since 2014. It’s a weird feeling for fans who have basically penciled in "Chiefs Football" for every weekend in January for the last ten years. The team finished third in the AFC West, which fundamentally changed their TV schedule and their postseason hopes.
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While the Chiefs are sidelined, the rest of the NFL is moving toward the Divisional Round. If you're looking for football to watch today—even if it's not the red and gold—you’ll have to wait until this coming weekend.
The 2026 Divisional Round TV Schedule
Even though we can't answer what channel are the chiefs playing on with a live broadcast today, the playoffs are still delivering some massive matchups. Here is how the TV schedule looks for the games that are actually happening this weekend:
Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: This kicks off at 4:30 PM ET. You can catch this one on CBS or stream it on Paramount+.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: An NFC West rivalry in the playoffs? Yes, please. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM ET on FOX.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
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- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: This matchup airs at 3:00 PM ET on ABC and ESPN.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: The weekend wraps up at 6:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
Why the Chiefs missed the playoffs
It wasn't just one thing. The 2025 season was a bit of a "perfect storm" of bad luck for Kansas City. They dealt with a five-game losing streak toward the end of the year that ultimately acted as the nail in the coffin.
Transitioning from a perennial Super Bowl favorite to a team watching from the couch is jarring. The offense struggled with consistency, and while the defense kept them in several games, the AFC West was surprisingly deep this year. The Broncos and Raiders both made significant strides, making the divisional road much harder than in previous seasons.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Season
Since the season is over, the focus has shifted entirely to the 2026 opponents. We already know who they’ll play, even if we don’t have the exact dates yet. The NFL uses a rotating formula, so the "what channel" question will mostly involve CBS and FOX again next fall.
The Chiefs will host the following teams at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium:
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- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers
- Indianapolis Colts
On the road, they’ll be traveling to face the Bills, Dolphins, Rams, and Seahawks, among others. There’s even talk of an international game, possibly in Melbourne, Australia, or Munich, Germany, which would definitely change what time and channel you’d need to tune into.
How to stay updated
Since there's no game today, your best bet is to keep an eye on the NFL Draft prep. The Chiefs will have a much higher pick than they've had in years, which is the silver lining of a 6-11 season.
If you’re a die-hard fan, you might want to:
- Check the NFL Network for season recap specials and draft analysis.
- Follow the Divisional Round this weekend to see who might represent the AFC in the Super Bowl—a spot the Chiefs usually occupy.
- Sync your calendar for mid-May when the official 2026-2027 schedule is released.
The streak of AFC Championship appearances might have snapped, but the Mahomes era is far from over. Today is just a rare quiet Tuesday in Kansas City.
To prepare for next season, you should start tracking the NFL Scouting Combine updates starting February 23 to see which wide receivers or offensive linemen the Chiefs might target to fix the issues from this past year.