So, you're looking for the Chiefs game. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but the sea of red at Arrowhead has gone quiet for a while.
If you were hoping to see Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce suiting up this weekend, you've missed the window. The Kansas City Chiefs finished their 2025-2026 campaign with a 12-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on January 4, 2026. It was a rough way to end a season that honestly didn't go the way anyone in Missouri expected.
For the first time in over a decade, the Chiefs are not in the hunt during the January divisional rounds. While teams like the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills are battling it out in the Divisional playoffs right now (Saturday, January 17, 2026), Kansas City is officially in offseason mode.
When is the Kansas City Chiefs next game?
The short answer? August 2026. While the NFL hasn't dropped the exact dates and times for the 2026 preseason yet, we know the drill. Usually, the first full week of August is when the lights come back on. You’re looking at roughly seven months of waiting.
It’s weird, right? We’re so used to seeing this team deep in the postseason. But a 6-11 record doesn't get you a ticket to the dance. The team finished 3rd in the AFC West, and while Mahomes is already working through his rehab and eyeing a Week 1 return for the 2026 regular season, the immediate future involves draft boards rather than playbooks.
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The 2026 Opponents: Who will they play?
Even though the schedule hasn't been "released" with times and dates (that usually happens in May), the NFL’s rotation system means we already know exactly who is coming to town.
Basically, the Chiefs are set to face the AFC East and the NFC West this year. That’s a brutal draw. Here is the lineup of teams the Chiefs will face in 2026:
Home Games at Arrowhead:
- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers
- Indianapolis Colts
Away Games:
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- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Rams
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Atlanta Falcons
That road trip to Seattle is going to be loud. And a rematch against the 49ers at home? That’s probably going to be a primetime slot. The league loves that narrative.
Why the long wait matters
Honestly, this might be the most important offseason for Andy Reid and Brett Veach since they drafted Mahomes. Finishing 6-11 is a wake-up call. The offense struggled, the 17th-game loss to Atlanta (scheduled for 2026) is already being talked about as a "must-win" for morale, and the roster needs a spark.
Keep an eye on the NFL Draft in late April. Since the Chiefs finished with a losing record, they’ll have a much higher pick than they’ve had in years. They aren't picking 31st or 32nd this time.
The next "game" isn't on a field; it's in the front office.
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What to do while you wait
If you're feeling the withdrawal, there are a few key dates to circle on your calendar. These aren't games, but they're the milestones that lead back to football:
- NFL Scouting Combine (Late February): This is where we see who might be the next weapon for Mahomes.
- Free Agency (March): Watch the salary cap. The Chiefs need to decide who stays and who goes.
- The Schedule Release (May): This is when we’ll finally know if that 49ers game is a Monday Night Football special or a Sunday afternoon slugfest.
- Training Camp (July): This is the first time the 2026 squad will actually be together in St. Joseph.
It’s a long winter. It's an even longer spring. But the road back to the Super Bowl (which will be Super Bowl LXI in 2027) starts now.
To stay ready for the 2026 season, your best bet is to track the injury reports for Mahomes. He’s already expressed excitement about being ready for Week 1. If he's healthy, 6-11 will look like a fluke by this time next year. For now, enjoy the playoffs as a neutral observer, or—let’s be real—root against the Broncos.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the official NFL communications in mid-May 2026 for the specific date and time of the Chiefs' season opener. Until then, monitor the NFL Draft (April 23-25, 2026) to see which new players will be joining the roster at Arrowhead.