The NFL has announced a contingency plan that could see Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta hosting a pivotal AFC Championship game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. This unprecedented scenario, 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 to address competitive imbalances caused by this cancellation. A key element of this resolution is the possibility of a neutral site AFC Championship game. This measure would be enacted if both the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, having played an unequal number of games, were in contention for the number one seed and home-field advantage, which would have been theirs had a full 17-game season been played across the AFC.
Therefore, should both Buffalo and Kansas City win their respective divisional round games and advance to the AFC title game, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will serve as the neutral battleground. Atlanta was pre-selected as a potential backup host for postseason games at the beginning of the 2022 season, recognized for its near equidistant location from both Buffalo and Kansas City, ensuring fairer travel for both fan bases. In any other AFC Championship matchup scenario, the game will proceed as traditionally scheduled at the home stadium of the team with the higher seed.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated, “We are encouraged by Damar Hamlin’s continued recovery, as he and his family are in the thoughts of the entire NFL community. We extend our gratitude to Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons for their willingness to host the AFC Championship Game in Atlanta should the Bills and Chiefs advance. We appreciate the cooperation of both clubs in this planning process. We are confident that Mercedes-Benz Stadium will offer an exceptional experience for the competing teams, our fans, and partners, if needed.â€
Further details regarding this potential game, including ticket sales and availability, will be released at a later date. Season Ticket Members for both Buffalo and Kansas City who had previously committed to purchasing championship game tickets will be given priority access.
