If you're looking for a kickoff time for next Sunday, I've got some bad news. You won't find one. For the first time since 2014, the Kansas City Chiefs are watching the NFL playoffs from their couches. It feels weird, right? For a decade, January in KC meant red jerseys, freezing temperatures at Arrowhead, and Patrick Mahomes doing things with a football that didn't seem physically possible.
Not this year.
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The who do the chiefs play next question has a depressing answer for the Kingdom: nobody. Their season officially ended on January 4, 2026, with a 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. That loss put a bow on a 6-11 season that most fans would like to scrub from their memory banks like a bad dream.
The Brutal Reality of the 2025-2026 Season
Honestly, if you told me back in August that the Chiefs would finish third in the AFC West, I would’ve asked what you were drinking. But the wheels didn't just fall off; the whole engine basically exploded.
It started with a slow crawl. They went 0-2 out of the gate, which was the first time that happened in the Mahomes era. Then came the injuries. We're talking "walking wounded" levels of bad. The gut punch happened in Week 15 against the Chargers when Patrick Mahomes went down with a season-ending ACL tear.
You can't lose the best player on the planet and expect to keep the ship upright. Gardner Minshew tried to steady things, then he got hurt too. By the end, they were starting Chris Oladokun. No disrespect to Chris, but it's a long way from Mahomes.
- Final Record: 6-11
- Division Finish: 3rd in AFC West
- Playoff Status: Eliminated (Watching at home)
The crazy thing is how close they were. Nine of those 11 losses were by seven points or less. They were right there. A bounce here, a call there, and maybe they’re the ones playing in the Divisional Round this weekend instead of the Denver Broncos or the New England Patriots.
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So, Who Do the Chiefs Play Next in 2026?
Since there are no more games this winter, we have to look ahead to the 2026 regular season. The NFL's scheduling formula is basically a math equation that doesn't care about your feelings. Because the Chiefs finished third in their division, their 2026 schedule is actually "easier" on paper than it has been in years.
They’ll face the usual AFC West suspects twice, but the rest of the slate is already locked in.
Home Games at Arrowhead
The 2026 home schedule is a mix of "thank god" and "oh no." Getting the Niners at home is huge, but they also have to deal with some rising AFC East teams.
- Denver Broncos: The new kings of the West (for now).
- Las Vegas Raiders: Always a fistfight.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Hopefully without a 4th-string QB this time.
- San Francisco 49ers: A Super Bowl rematch that feels like a lifetime ago.
- Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray coming to town.
- New England Patriots: Drake Maye looks like the real deal, unfortunately.
- New York Jets: Let’s see if they’ve figured it out by then.
- Indianapolis Colts: This was the "3rd place finisher" matchup.
Road Warriors: The 2026 Away Slate
This is where it gets tricky. Taking a trip to Orchard Park is never fun, and a flight to Seattle is basically a guaranteed headache for the offensive line.
- Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen vs. a healthy Mahomes (fingers crossed).
- Cincinnati Bengals: The Burrow-Mahomes rivalry remains the best thing in football.
- Miami Dolphins: Hope it's not in September; the heat is a killer.
- Seattle Seahawks: Lumen Field is loud. Very loud.
- Los Angeles Rams: A trip to SoFi.
- Atlanta Falcons: Their designated NFC South opponent.
What Went Wrong? (The "Not-So-Secret" Issues)
Look, blaming it all on Mahomes’ knee is easy. It’s also a bit of a cop-out. The problems started way before Week 15. The wide receiver room was... let’s be kind and say "inconsistent."
Travis Kelce is a legend, but he’s 36. He can’t carry the entire passing game on his back anymore. The front office tried to patch things together with guys like DeAndre Hopkins in 2024, but by 2025, the depth just wasn't there. When you have a $50 million quarterback, you’re usually skimping somewhere. For the Chiefs, that "somewhere" was the run game and the WR2/WR3 spots.
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Then you have the defense. Steve Spagnuolo’s unit was actually great—6th in the league in points allowed—but they couldn't score enough to help them. It’s hard to win when you’re averaging 21 points a game. That’s not Chiefs football. That’s 1990s ground-and-pound football.
The Patrick Mahomes Recovery Timeline
This is the only thing that actually matters right now. If you're asking about the who do the chiefs play next situation because you’re worried about #15, here’s the deal.
An ACL tear usually takes 9 to 12 months for a full return to "NFL speed." Since the injury happened in mid-December 2025, the timeline is tight.
- Winter 2026: Surgery and initial rehab.
- Spring 2026: Range of motion and light strength work.
- Summer 2026: The real test. Can he cut? Can he drop back?
- September 2026: The goal is Week 1.
Modern medicine is incredible. We’ve seen guys come back in eight months. But the Chiefs would be insane to rush him. If he’s not 100%, you don't put him out there. You just don't.
The Silver Lining of Finishing Third
There is a weird quirk to the NFL. If you win the division, you play all the other division winners the next year. It’s a gauntlet. By finishing third, the Chiefs get to play the 3rd-place teams from the AFC North (Bengals), AFC South (Colts), and NFC South (Falcons).
In a weird way, the 2025 disaster set them up for a 2026 "Revenge Tour." They’ll have a higher draft pick—likely in the top 10—and a schedule that doesn't feel like a death march.
Actionable Next Steps for Chiefs Fans
Stop refreshing the playoff bracket. It’s over. Instead, here is what you should actually be watching over the next few months to stay ahead of the curve:
- Monitor the NFL Draft Order: The Chiefs haven't picked this high in a decade. Keep an eye on the top offensive tackle and wide receiver prospects. They need a "clean pocket" protector for Mahomes’ return.
- Kelce Retirement Watch: Travis hasn't said anything officially, but the rumors are everywhere. If he walks, the tight end position becomes a massive hole.
- Free Agency Cap Space: Brett Veach is going to have to get creative. They need veteran help at receiver, and they need it yesterday.
- Rehab Updates: Follow the beat writers like Nate Taylor or Matt Derrick. They’ll be the ones getting the first looks at Mahomes during OTAs.
The dynasty isn't dead, but it’s definitely taking a nap. Use this offseason to appreciate the rest of the league, because come September 2026, the target will be right back on Kansas City's chest.