The NFL has announced a contingency plan that could see the Kansas City Chiefs potentially playing the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game at a neutral site: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This unprecedented move is a direct result of the unfortunate cancellation of the Week 17 game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.
League officials confirmed today that if both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills win their respective divisional round games, the highly anticipated AFC Championship clash would be relocated to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, January 29, at 6:30 PM ET. This decision comes after NFL club owners approved a special resolution to address competitive imbalances arising from the Bills-Bengals game cancellation. This resolution specifically addresses the scenario where both Buffalo and Kansas City could have secured the number one seed and hosted the championship game under a normal 17-game season for all AFC teams.
Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium was pre-selected by the NFL as a potential backup location for postseason games well before the 2022 season commenced. Its selection was strategic, considering its near equidistant location from both Kansas City and Buffalo, offering relatively fair travel for both fan bases should this matchup materialize. It’s important to note that all other AFC Championship Game scenarios, not involving both the Bills and Chiefs, will proceed as traditionally scheduled at the home stadium of the higher-seeded team.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the ongoing situation with 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 also expressed gratitude towards Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons organization for their willingness to host such a crucial game on short notice. “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.â€
Further details regarding the AFC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including crucial ticket information, will be released by the NFL in the near future. 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 in this unique situation.
