If you're frantically checking your betting apps or trying to find the kickoff time for the Chiefs game, I have some news that might sting a little. Honestly, it’s the kind of news nobody in Missouri wants to hear in the middle of January.
The short answer? The Kansas City Chiefs do not play this weekend. While the NFL world is buzzing with Divisional Round matchups on January 17 and 18, 2026, the reigning dynasty is watching from the couch. It feels weird, right? For years, this weekend was basically a national holiday at Arrowhead. But after a brutal 6–11 season that saw the team finish third in the AFC West, the "Red Kingdom" has been forced into an early winter nap.
Who Does Kansas City Play This Weekend? The Reality of the 2026 Playoffs
People are so used to seeing Patrick Mahomes in a parka this time of year that the search for who does Kansas City play this weekend is still trending. Habit is a powerful thing. But this year, the AFC playoff bracket looks completely different.
Instead of Kansas City, we have the Denver Broncos holding the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Yeah, you read that right. The AFC West crown shifted to the mountains this season. While the Chiefs are out, here is what the actual schedule looks like for the "real" Divisional Round:
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- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET on CBS)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET on FOX)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET on NBC)
It’s a strange slate. You've got the Bears and the Patriots hosting playoff games again while the Chiefs are dealing with a laundry list of offseason drama.
What Happened to the Chiefs?
You can't talk about why Kansas City isn't playing without mentioning the "injury bug" that didn't just bite—it basically swallowed the roster whole.
The biggest blow? Patrick Mahomes and his torn ACL. That changed everything. Seeing him on the sidelines in a headset instead of a helmet during the final stretch of the season was a reality check for the entire league. Then you had Gardner Minshew, who was doing a decent job filling in, go down with a knee injury of his own late in the year.
Basically, the quarterback room looked more like a hospital wing by Week 18.
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It wasn't just the QBs. Rashee Rice had a season defined by a six-game suspension and a concussion. Travis Kelce, despite hitting that massive 13,000-yard career milestone, was often fighting double teams with very little help from a rotating door of receivers. When Hollywood Brown is your primary deep threat but the guy throwing him the ball is Shane Buechele or Chris Oladokun, the math just doesn't add up to a deep playoff run.
The Tyreek Hill Rumors and the 2026 Reset
Because there’s no game to prepare for, the Kansas City front office is already pivoting to a "Plan B" that sounds like a fever dream.
Have you seen the Tyreek Hill tweets? "I want to go home."
It’s cryptic, it’s annoying, and it’s exactly what Chiefs fans are clinging to right now. With the Dolphins likely moving on from him and Hill rehabbing his own serious knee injury, the "Cheetah" returning to Kansas City is the biggest "what if" of the 2026 offseason. Whether or not Andy Reid wants to deal with the off-field noise that comes with Hill is another story, but when you finish 6–11, you start looking at every possible upgrade.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Opponents
Since you won't be heading to GEHA Field at Arrowhead this weekend, you might as well look at who will be coming to town next fall. The NFL has already locked in the home and away opponents for the 2026 season.
The home slate is actually pretty spicy. The 49ers are coming to town, which is always a heavyweight fight. You've also got the New York Jets and New England Patriots making the trip to KC. And of course, the usual suspects from the AFC West—the Broncos, Raiders, and Chargers—will be looking to kick the Chiefs while they're down.
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If you’re the type who likes to travel, the 2026 away schedule includes a trip to Atlanta to face the Falcons and a flight to see the Indianapolis Colts.
Actionable Steps for Chiefs Fans This Weekend
Since you aren't watching Mahomes, what do you actually do with your Sunday?
- Watch the Bills-Broncos game. If you want a glimpse of who the Chiefs have to jump over to get back to the top of the AFC West, this is the game. Denver is the new benchmark in the division.
- Monitor the Mahomes Rehab. Keep an eye on the official team reports. Mahomes is targeting Week 1 of the 2026 season for his return. Any news on his "cutting and running" drills is more important than any touchdown scored this weekend.
- Ignore the "Trade Kelce" Noise. Every time the Chiefs struggle, people start talking about Travis Kelce’s $90 million net worth and his podcast and his retirement. On the Jan. 6 episode of New Heights, he basically said he still loves the game too much to quit. He’s not going anywhere yet.
The dynasty isn't dead, it’s just recharging. It’s a weird feeling to be an observer during the Divisional Round, but for the first time in nearly a decade, Kansas City is the hunter instead of the hunted.
Next season's schedule will be officially released in May. Until then, we’re all just scoreboard watching and hoping the ACLs in Kansas City heal fast.
Next Steps for the Offseason:
Keep an eye on the NFL Scouting Combine in late February. The Chiefs are picking much higher in the draft than they’re used to, and they desperately need a healthy, reliable X-receiver to take the pressure off an aging Kelce.