So, you’re looking for the kickoff time. Honestly, I get it. We’ve all been there, scrolling through schedules and trying to figure out if we have enough time to grab wings before the first snap. But if you are asking what time is the chiefs playing today on this Thursday, January 15, 2026, the answer is actually a bit of a gut punch for the Kingdom.
The Kansas City Chiefs are not playing today.
In fact, they aren’t playing this week at all. For the first time in what feels like forever—specifically since 2014—the Chiefs did not make the NFL playoffs. They finished their 2025-2026 regular season on January 4 with a narrow 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. That loss put a lid on a frustrating 6-11 season. It's weird, right? Seeing a January playoff bracket without Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce feels like a glitch in the matrix.
Why the Chiefs Aren't on the Schedule Today
Usually, mid-January is when GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is screaming. But the "today" you’re looking for is currently occupied by teams that actually survived the regular season gauntlet.
Kansas City’s season ended ten days ago. They aren't in the Divisional Round. They didn't even make the Wild Card round. While fans are used to seeing the red and gold deep into the postseason, this year the AFC is being run by teams like the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots.
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Basically, the Chiefs are already in "offseason mode." They're looking at draft boards and figuring out how to fix a roster that struggled to find its rhythm all year. If you’re seeing any "Chiefs" news today, it’s likely about coaching changes or Travis Kelce’s retirement rumors rather than a kickoff time.
The Actual Playoff Schedule for This Week
Since you’re clearly looking for some football to watch, you should know that the NFL is currently transitioning from the Wild Card round to the Divisional Round. There are no games today, Thursday, January 15. The NFL almost always sticks to a Saturday/Sunday (and sometimes Monday) rhythm for the playoffs.
Here is what the real schedule looks like for the upcoming weekend:
- Saturday, January 17: The Buffalo Bills travel to Denver to face the Broncos at 4:30 PM ET. Later that night, the 49ers and Seahawks kick off at 8:00 PM ET.
- Sunday, January 18: The Houston Texans take on the Patriots at 3:00 PM ET. The weekend wraps up with the Rams at the Chicago Bears at 6:30 PM ET.
What Happened to the 2025-2026 Chiefs?
It’s kinda wild to think about. This team was a dynasty. Then, the 2025 season hit. They started 0-2 with losses to the Chargers and Eagles, and honestly, they never really recovered.
Sure, there were flashes of the old magic. They blew out the Raiders 31-0 in October. They handled the Ravens. But the consistency just wasn't there. They lost five of their last six games. When you lose to the Broncos on Christmas Day and then drop the season finale to a Raiders team that was 2-14 at the time, you don't get to play in January.
Most experts, including the folks over at Arrowhead Pride and ESPN, pointed to a lack of explosive plays. Mahomes is still Mahomes, but the synergy with the wide receiver corps looked out of sync for most of the year.
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When Can You Watch the Chiefs Again?
If you're asking what time is the chiefs playing today because you're ready to see them bounce back, you're going to have to wait quite a while.
The NFL won't release the official 2026 regular-season schedule until May. However, we already know who they'll be playing. Because of the way NFL scheduling rotations work, the Chiefs are slated to face teams like the 49ers, Colts, and Patriots at home in 2026.
You can expect the first preseason game to happen in early August 2026. That’s a long six-month wait for a fanbase that is used to Super Bowl parades in February.
Actionable Steps for Chiefs Fans Today
Since there is no game to watch, here is what you should actually do if you're a displaced Chiefs fan:
- Check the Draft Order: Since the Chiefs finished 6-11, they'll have a much higher draft pick than they’ve had in a decade. Start looking at mock drafts to see which receivers or offensive linemen might be heading to KC.
- Monitor the Coaching Staff: There’s a lot of chatter about whether Andy Reid might make significant changes to the defensive or offensive staff after such a disappointing slide.
- Watch the Divisional Round Anyway: Even without the Chiefs, the Bills vs. Broncos game this Saturday is going to be high-level football. It's a good chance to scout the teams that have taken over the AFC throne.
The bottom line is simple: the Chiefs' season is over. No game today, no game this weekend. It’s a strange new reality for Kansas City, but for now, the pads are in storage. Keep an eye on the NFL Combine in late February for the next bit of real Chiefs action.