If you just sat down with a bowl of wings and a remote, ready to hunt for the Kansas City Chiefs game, I’ve got some tough news. There is no Chiefs game today. Honestly, it feels weird. For years, January 18th has basically been "Chiefs Invitational" season where we all expect to see Patrick Mahomes spinning away from a defensive end to launch a 40-yard prayer. But the 2025-26 season took a sharp left turn.
Instead of a deep playoff run, the Chiefs wrapped up their year two weeks ago. If you're looking for who is broadcasting the Chiefs game today, the answer is unfortunately nobody, because the team didn't make the postseason cut this time around. It's a bit of a shock to the system for a fan base that has basically lived in the AFC Championship for nearly a decade.
The Reality of the January 18 NFL Schedule
Even though Kansas City is sitting this one out, the NFL Divisional Round is still in full swing today. If you're a football junkie and just want to see some elite playoff action, you still have two massive games on the docket for Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Here is who is actually on your TV today:
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- The Afternoon Window (3:00 PM ET): The Houston Texans travel to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots. You can find this one on ESPN and ABC. It’s the battle of the young gun C.J. Stroud trying to take down a Patriots defense that has looked surprisingly like the "dynasty" years under their new coaching staff.
- The Primetime Slot (6:30 PM ET): The Los Angeles Rams are at Soldier Field taking on the Chicago Bears. This one is the "Sunday Night Football" style presentation on NBC and Peacock. Watching a playoff game in the January Chicago cold is always a vibe, even if it's not at Arrowhead.
What happened to the Chiefs in 2025?
It’s the question everyone in Missouri (and half the country) is asking. How did a team with this much talent end up missing the playoffs?
The Chiefs finished the 2025 regular season with a 6-11 record. Their final game was a 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on January 4, 2026. That loss officially slammed the door on any playoff hopes. It was a season defined by "almosts." Five of those losses were by three points or less. Basically, a couple of bounces the other way and we'd be talking about a completely different January.
Injuries played a massive role, and the AFC West was surprisingly brutal this year. The Denver Broncos, led by a resurgent defense, actually managed to secure the #1 seed in the AFC. Seeing Denver at the top while Kansas City stays home is definitely a sight most fans aren't used to.
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How to stay connected during the offseason
Just because they aren't playing doesn't mean the news stops. In fact, for a team like KC, the "real" season is just beginning. The front office is likely already looking at the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency to figure out how to rebuild the offensive line and find more consistent targets for Mahomes.
If you want to keep up with what the players are doing or catch up on the season highlights you might have missed, the Chiefs Mobile App and NFL+ are your best bets. NFL+ specifically has the full game replays of the entire 2025 season, which is great if you want to analyze exactly where things went sideways.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Season
The good news? The 2026 opponents are already set. The NFL rotates these things on a formula, so we know the Chiefs will be facing the AFC East (Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots) and the NFC West (49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals) next year.
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It’s going to be a long road back to the top, but history suggests you shouldn't bet against #15 for long. For today, though, you might as well pick a "playoff team for a day." Maybe pull for the Texans or the Bears—honestly, seeing a new face in the Super Bowl might be a nice change of pace.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the TV Guide: If you still want to watch football today, tune into ABC/ESPN at 3:00 PM ET or NBC at 6:30 PM ET.
- Update your apps: If you're a die-hard fan, keep the Chiefs Mobile App notifications on. The post-season post-mortems and coaching staff updates usually start dropping right about now.
- Scout the Draft: Start looking at the 2026 Mock Drafts. Since the Chiefs finished 6-11, they’ll have a much higher draft pick than they’ve had in years—likely a top-10 or top-12 selection.