You’ve got the chips. The couch is cleared. You're probably refreshing your phone or scrolling through the guide asking, what time is kansas city game?
Well, here is the honest, slightly painful truth for the Kingdom: there isn't one. Not today, January 17, 2026.
If you’re looking for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid to take the field this afternoon, you’re going to be looking at a blank screen or a different matchup entirely. The Kansas City Chiefs' 2025-2026 season officially wrapped up on January 4, 2026, following a tough 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. It was a weird, defensive slog that ended on a Daniel Carlson 60-yard field goal, and unfortunately, it kept Kansas City out of the postseason dance this year.
So, What Time Is Kansas City Game on Today?
The short answer? It's not.
Right now, the NFL is in the thick of the Divisional Round. While GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is usually rocking this time of year, it’s quiet today. Instead, the AFC spotlight has shifted to Denver and Foxborough.
✨ Don't miss: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
If you just need a football fix to fill the void, here is the actual schedule for the games happening right now:
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: This one kicked off at 4:30 p.m. ET today (Saturday, Jan 17). The Broncos took the top seed in the AFC this year, which is why the road to the Super Bowl is going through the altitude instead of the Missouri cold.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: A massive NFC West rivalry game starting at 8:00 p.m. ET tonight on FOX.
It feels wrong, doesn't it? Seeing the Bills and Broncos battle it out for a spot in the AFC Championship while the Chiefs are already looking at mock drafts. Honestly, the 2025 season was a bit of a rollercoaster that just never quite leveled out for KC.
Why the Chiefs Aren't Playing This Weekend
Most fans searching for what time is kansas city game are used to the "January Tradition"—the Chiefs hosting a playoff game in the freezing cold. But 2025 was different. The team finished with a losing record, capped off by that narrow loss in Vegas where the offense just couldn't find the end zone.
Harrison Butker was basically the entire offense in that finale, kicking four field goals. When your kicker is your leading scorer in a must-win Week 18 game, you're usually headed for an early vacation.
🔗 Read more: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
There's also some drama behind the scenes. Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy has been a hot name in the head-coaching circuit. In fact, just today, reports surfaced that he’s inching closer to a new job as teams like the Titans and Falcons look to fill their vacancies. The coaching staff might look very different by the time the 2026 season kicks off in September.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Kansas City Schedule
Since there is no game today, the next time we’ll see the Chiefs in a meaningful contest will be September 2026. The NFL usually releases the exact dates and times in May, but we already know who they are playing.
Because of the NFL’s rotating schedule, the Chiefs are slated to face some heavy hitters next year.
Home Games at Arrowhead:
💡 You might also like: South Carolina women's basketball schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
- San Francisco 49ers
- Indianapolis Colts
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- New York Jets
- Plus the usual AFC West rivals (Broncos, Raiders, Chargers)
Away Games:
- Buffalo Bills (Yes, another trip to Orchard Park)
- Miami Dolphins
- Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Rams
- Atlanta Falcons
It’s a brutal slate. Playing both the 49ers and the Seahawks in the same year, plus a trip to Buffalo, means the Chiefs will have to fix whatever went wrong this past season if they want to get back to playing in mid-January.
How to Stay Occupied Without a Chiefs Game
It sucks when your team is out, but the playoffs are still worth watching. If you were hoping to see a "Kansas City style" game, the Bills-Broncos matchup is your best bet for high-stakes AFC football.
If you're already over this season, you can pivot to the NFL Draft talk. The Chiefs will have a much higher pick than they've had in years. Most experts are pointing toward the defensive line or potentially adding another explosive playmaker to help Mahomes, who spent a lot of the 2025 season running for his life or dealing with dropped passes.
The Super Bowl (Super Bowl LX) is set for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Bad Bunny is headlining the halftime show. It’s going to be a massive spectacle, even if the red and gold won't be on the sidelines this time.
Actionable Next Steps for Chiefs Fans
Stop checking the TV listings for today; the Chiefs are officially in "offseason mode."
- Watch the AFC Divisional Game: Tune into CBS right now to see the Bills and Broncos. It’ll give you a good look at the teams that jumped ahead of KC in the standings this year.
- Track the Coaching Search: Keep an eye on Matt Nagy’s status. If he leaves, Andy Reid will need to find a new primary voice for the offense, which could change everything for 2026.
- Mark Your Calendar for May: That’s when the 2026 official schedule drops. You'll finally have real answers to what time is kansas city game for the upcoming season.
- Review the Cap Space: The Chiefs have some tough decisions to make with veteran contracts. Checking out sites like OverTheCap will give you a realistic idea of who might be gone by the summer.