If you’re refreshing your phone looking for a live score or wondering who's winning the chiefs game right now, the answer is actually a bit of a gut punch for Chiefs Kingdom. There is no score. There’s no game.
The Kansas City Chiefs are not playing today, January 18, 2026.
While this weekend marks the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs—the high-octane part of the year where Patrick Mahomes usually thrives—the Chiefs are watching from their couches. For the first time in nearly a decade, the road to the Super Bowl doesn't run through Arrowhead Stadium. Honestly, it feels weird. After years of dominance, seeing the AFC bracket without a red-and-gold logo in the mix is a legitimate shock to the system.
The Brutal Reality of the 2025-26 Season
To understand why you can't find the Chiefs on TV right now, we have to look back at how this season spiraled. It wasn't just a "down year"; it was a total derailment. Kansas City finished the regular season with a dismal 6-11 record.
Think about that for a second.
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This is a franchise that made winning double-digit games look like a chore. But this year? They ended the season on a six-game losing streak. The final nail in the coffin happened on January 4, 2026, when the Las Vegas Raiders—a team that had lost ten straight to KC—beat them 14-12 on a last-second, 60-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson.
Basically, the magic ran out.
The offense, which used to be a cheat code, struggled to find any rhythm. Injuries pestered the offensive line, and the veteran reliability we’re used to seeing from Mahomes and Travis Kelce just wasn't enough to carry a roster that looked tired.
Who is Playing in the Playoffs Instead?
Since you're clearly looking for some postseason football action, there are plenty of other teams filling the void today. While the Chiefs are out, the AFC is currently a chaotic mess of new blood and old rivals.
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- The Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos: This was the big one yesterday. In a game that would usually feature Mahomes, it was Bo Nix and the Broncos who stunned Josh Allen in a 33-30 overtime thriller.
- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: This matchup is taking place today, January 18. It’s a battle of the "next gen" quarterbacks, and it’s where the actual eyeballs of the AFC are focused right now.
- The NFC Side: We already saw the Seattle Seahawks absolutely dismantle the San Francisco 49ers 41-6. If you want to see a blowout, that was the one.
It’s a bizarre landscape. You've got Sean Payton reviving the Broncos and the Texans proving that their rebuild is the real deal. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are heading into the offseason with more questions than answers.
Why the Chiefs Missed the Cut
People are going to spend the next six months over-analyzing this. Was it the coaching? Was it the lack of a true WR1? Or was it just the inevitable "hangover" that comes after trying to maintain a dynasty for seven years?
The truth is probably a mix of everything. The AFC West got significantly tougher this year. The Raiders and Broncos both took massive leaps forward, and the Chiefs simply couldn't keep pace. For the first time in the Mahomes era, the defense couldn't bail out an offense that ranked in the bottom half of the league for scoring.
The "who's winning the chiefs game right now" search query is likely coming from fans who are so used to January football in KC that they literally can't believe the season is over. It’s muscle memory. You wake up, you put on the jersey, you check the spread. But this year, the spread is zero because the season is done.
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What's Next for Kansas City?
So, if they aren't playing, what are they doing?
The front office is already pivoting to the 2026 NFL Draft. Because they finished 6-11, they actually have a decent draft pick for once. They’ll be looking to reload on young talent, specifically on the defensive side and at playmaker positions.
The era of the "Chiefs Invitational" (the AFC Championship game being at Arrowhead) is officially on hiatus. But don't count them out for 2026. A healthy Mahomes with a chip on his shoulder is usually a dangerous thing for the rest of the league.
If you’re looking for live football to fill the void today, turn your attention to the Texans and Patriots. It might not have the same flair as a Kansas City shootout, but it's the reality of the 2026 postseason.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Draft Order: Since the Chiefs are out, start looking at mock drafts. Kansas City will likely have a top-15 pick, which is rare territory for them.
- Watch the Texans/Patriots: This game determines who moves on to the AFC Championship to face the Broncos.
- Monitor Free Agency: The Chiefs have several veteran contracts to deal with this spring, and the roster could look very different by August.
The Chiefs aren't winning right now because they aren't on the field, but the work to get back there has already started.