It feels weird. Honestly, it feels like a glitch in the Matrix or a typo in the NFL history books, but if you're looking for the kickoff time to see who are the chiefs playing on sunday, I’ve got some tough news.
The Kansas City Chiefs aren't playing this Sunday. Or Saturday. They aren't playing next week, either.
For the first time since 2014—and for the first time in the entire Patrick Mahomes era—the Chiefs are officially on vacation during the NFL Divisional Round. After a grueling, uncharacteristic 2025 regular season that saw the team finish with a 6-11 record, the reigning dynasty of the AFC is watching the playoffs from the couch just like the rest of us.
The Reality of the 2026 Playoff Picture
If you’ve been tuned into the noise surrounding Arrowhead lately, you know the vibe is heavy. While we’re used to seeing Mahomes and Kelce prepping for a deep January run, the AFC bracket looks completely different this year.
Since the Chiefs missed the cut, the "Sunday slot" they usually occupy has been taken over by the next generation of AFC and NFC heavyweights. If you turn on the TV this Sunday, January 18, 2026, here is the actual schedule you're going to see:
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- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: This game kicks off at 3:05 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC. It’s a battle between C.J. Stroud’s high-octane offense and a Patriots defense that has looked surprisingly stout in the post-Belichick era.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: The nightcap starts at 6:40 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. This one is at Soldier Field, and it’s expected to be a cold, classic defensive slugfest.
It’s a bit of a gut punch for the Kingdom. Usually, by mid-January, Kansas City is the center of the football universe. This year, the road to Super Bowl LX goes through Denver and New England instead.
What Went Wrong in Kansas City?
People are asking "who are the chiefs playing on sunday" because, frankly, we’re conditioned to expect them to be there. They’ve made the AFC Championship game seven years in a row. They were the "forever team." But the 2025-2026 season was a reality check that no one saw coming—at least not to this extent.
The issues weren't just one thing. It was a slow-motion car crash.
First, the offense never found its rhythm after a rotating door of injuries at the wide receiver position. We saw uncharacteristic drops, a lack of deep-threat consistency, and Mahomes often running for his life behind an offensive line that struggled with speed rushes. Finishing 6-11 isn't just a "bad year" for this franchise; it's a total system failure.
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They lost close games to the Raiders, Broncos, and Chargers—teams they used to dominate. When you go 1-5 in your own division, you don't get to play on Sunday in January. It’s as simple as that.
The Missing Piece
A lot of analysts, including experts at Arrowhead Addict and Sports Illustrated, pointed to the aging roster and the "championship tax." When you win as much as the Chiefs have, you lose your coordinators to head coaching jobs and your depth players to better contracts elsewhere. Eventually, the bill comes due.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Schedule
Even though the question of who are the chiefs playing on sunday results in a "nobody" right now, the 2026 regular-season opponents are already locked in. The NFL uses a scheduling formula, so we already know who Mahomes and company will face when they try to start their revenge tour next September.
The Chiefs will be playing a "third-place schedule" next year, which ironically might be the silver lining they need to get back to the top. Here is a look at who they’ll be facing:
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- Home Games: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and the Indianapolis Colts.
- Away Games: Denver, Vegas, L.A. Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, L.A. Rams, and the Atlanta Falcons.
That’s a tough slate. Trips to Buffalo and Seattle are never easy, and playing the 49ers at home is always a heavyweight bout. But for a team that just missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade, having a "softer" schedule compared to the division winners might be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Why This Sunday Still Matters for Chiefs Fans
Even though the Chiefs aren't on the field, Kansas City fans should be watching these Sunday games closely. Why? Because the power vacuum in the AFC is being filled right now.
The Houston Texans look like the new "it" team. C.J. Stroud is playing with the kind of poise that reminds people of early-career Mahomes. If the Texans beat the Patriots this Sunday, they become the clear favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. For the Chiefs to get back to the mountaintop in 2027, these are the teams they have to figure out how to beat.
Also, keep an eye on the Denver Broncos. They secured the #1 seed this year and have a bye/home-field advantage. Seeing a division rival thrive while you're sitting at home is the kind of motivation that usually fuels a massive off-season turnaround.
Actionable Steps for the Off-Season
Since there is no game to prep for this weekend, the focus shifts entirely to the front office. If you're a fan or a fantasy manager looking at this roster, here is what needs to happen:
- Monitor the Draft: The Chiefs will have their highest draft pick in years. They desperately need a cornerstone tackle or a true #1 "X" receiver who can win one-on-one matchups.
- Cap Space Management: Watch for potential veteran cuts. The team needs to get younger and faster on the edges.
- Coaching Stability: Andy Reid has hinted he’s not going anywhere, but expect some shakeups in the positional coaching ranks to bring in fresh ideas for the offense.
So, while you won't be seeing the red and gold on the screen this Sunday, the work to ensure we never have to ask "why aren't they playing" again starts right now. Enjoy the Texans and the Rams—it's a rare chance to watch the playoffs without the stress of a Chiefs heart-attack finish.