If you're refreshing your feed looking for a kickoff time this weekend, I've got some tough news. The kingdom is quiet. For the first time in what feels like forever, the Kansas City Chiefs aren't in the mix during the Divisional Round. It’s weird, right? We’re so used to seeing Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid orchestrating some late-game magic in January. But this year, the calendar is blank.
Basically, the Chiefs' season ended on January 4, 2026, after a Week 18 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. It wasn't the ending anyone in Missouri—or anywhere else—expected. Because they finished third in the AFC West and missed the postseason entirely, the answer to when are the chiefs playing again isn't "next Sunday." It's actually not until August 2026.
The Long Wait for the 2026 Season
We are officially in the "dark days" of the NFL calendar for KC fans. Since the team didn't make the cut for the 2025-2026 playoffs, they won't be hitting the field for a meaningful snap for several months.
Usually, we'd be talking about point spreads and weather conditions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead. Instead, the team is currently in "evaluation mode." This means front-office meetings, scouting reports, and probably a lot of tough conversations about why things went sideways this year. Honestly, it's a bit of a shock to the system.
If you want the literal next time they'll be in uniform, you’re looking at the NFL Preseason in August 2026. The specific dates for those games usually don't drop until the NFL releases the full schedule in mid-May. So, for now, we wait.
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Who Will the Chiefs Play in 2026?
Even though we don't have the exact times and dates yet, we actually do know who they're playing. The NFL's scheduling formula is pretty rigid, so the opponents are already locked in based on their third-place finish.
The 2026 schedule is going to be a gauntlet. Because they are playing the AFC East and the NFC West, they’ve got some heavy hitters on the horizon. Here is the breakdown of who is coming to Kansas City and where the Chiefs are headed on the road.
Home Games at Arrowhead
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers
- Indianapolis Colts
Away Games on the Road
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Atlanta Falcons
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
That road trip to Buffalo or Cincinnati is already looking like a "circle the calendar" type of game. And seeing the 49ers come to Arrowhead? That’s always a massive draw.
Why the Chiefs Aren't Playing Today
It’s the question every casual fan is asking. How did a team with Mahomes miss the playoffs? It came down to a brutal stretch in December. They lost five of their last six games, including a Christmas Day heartbreaker against the Broncos.
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The AFC West was surprisingly competitive this year. The Broncos actually secured the #1 seed in the AFC, which is a sentence I didn't think I'd be writing a year ago. While Denver is hosting the Buffalo Bills today (January 17, 2026) in the Divisional Round, the Chiefs are watching from home.
It’s a "retooling" year. That’s the polite way the analysts are putting it. But for the fans, it just feels like a long, cold winter.
Important Dates to Watch
Just because they aren't playing doesn't mean nothing is happening. If you’re a die-hard, these are the dates that actually matter now:
- March 11, 2026: The new league year begins. This is when free agency kicks off. Expect the Chiefs to be aggressive here to fix the gaps in the roster.
- Late April 2026: The NFL Draft. This is where the future gets built.
- Mid-May 2026: The official schedule release. This is when we’ll finally know the exact day and time for that Week 1 opener.
- Late July 2026: Training camp in St. Joseph.
Actionable Steps for Chiefs Fans
Since there’s no game to watch this Sunday, here’s how you can stay plugged in.
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First, keep an eye on the NFL Scouting Combine in late February. If you're wondering when are the chiefs playing again, the work for that next game starts there. The Chiefs need to get younger and faster at receiver, so that's the position to watch.
Second, watch the Divisional Round games today anyway. The Broncos-Bills game at 4:30 PM ET will show you exactly what the Chiefs are up against in their own division next year. Denver has become the team to beat in the West, and knowing your enemy is half the battle.
Finally, bookmark the official team site for the "New League Year" announcements in March. That's when the roster starts looking like a winning team again. The 2026 season might feel far away, but the moves made in the next eight weeks will determine if we're back in the playoffs this time next year.