The NFL has announced a contingency plan that could see Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta hosting a highly anticipated AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. This potential matchup, slated for Sunday, January 29, at 6:30 PM ET, arises from the unique circumstances following the cancellation of the Bills-Cincinnati game in Week 17.
Last week, NFL clubs approved a resolution designed to address competitive imbalances caused by the Week 17 cancellation. A key element of this resolution is the possibility of a neutral site for the AFC Championship Game. This condition applies specifically if the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are the two teams competing for the AFC title. The necessity for a neutral site stems from the fact that both teams could have potentially secured the number one seed and the right to host the championship game under a full 17-game regular season schedule for all AFC teams.
Therefore, should both the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs win their respective divisional round games and advance to the AFC Championship, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will serve as the neutral host venue. Atlanta was pre-selected as a possible backup location for postseason games before the 2022 season commenced, making it a strategically viable and almost equidistant location for fans of both potential teams. Crucially, all other AFC Championship Game scenarios, excluding a Bills-Chiefs matchup, will proceed as normal, hosted at the home stadium of the team with the higher seed.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the ongoing recovery of Damar Hamlin, stating, “We are heartened by the continued improvement and progress of Damar Hamlin in his recovery, and Damar and his family remain top of mind for the entire NFL community.” He further expressed gratitude to Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons organization, “We are also grateful to Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons for agreeing to host the AFC Championship Game in Atlanta should the Bills and Chiefs advance. We thank both of those clubs for their assistance in the planning process. We know, if necessary, Mercedes-Benz Stadium will provide a world class atmosphere for the competing teams, our fans and partners.”
Details regarding tickets and further arrangements are expected to be released soon. It has been confirmed that Buffalo and Kansas City Season Ticket Members who had previously committed to purchasing championship game tickets will be given priority access.
