The National Football League has announced a contingency plan that could see Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a world-class venue, host a highly anticipated AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. This potential neutral site game is slated for Sunday, January 29, at 6:30 PM ET, offering a thrilling prospect for fans, particularly those following the Kansas City Chiefs.
This unprecedented scenario arises from a resolution approved by NFL clubs to address competitive imbalances stemming from the unfortunate cancellation of the Week 17 game between Buffalo and Cincinnati. The core of the resolution states that if both the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs win their respective divisional round games and are set to compete for the AFC Championship, and if these teams played an unequal number of games, the championship game would be held at a neutral venue. This condition is met because the Bills and Bengals played one less game than other teams due to the cancellation. Had a full 17-game season been played by all AFC clubs, both Buffalo and Kansas City could have potentially secured the number one seed and the right to host the game.
Therefore, the stage is set: if the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs both emerge victorious from their divisional round matchups, the AFC Championship will be contested at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Atlanta was pre-selected by the NFL as a possible backup host city for postseason games well before the 2022 season commenced, a testament to its logistical advantages and status as a conveniently located city. Its location is considered almost equidistant for fans traveling from both Buffalo and Kansas City, making it a fair and accessible location for a neutral game. All other potential AFC Championship Game matchups that do not involve this specific Bills-Chiefs scenario will proceed as normal, hosted at the home stadium of the team with the higher seed.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the situation, 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. 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.”
Further details regarding this potential neutral site AFC Championship game, including crucial ticket information for fans eager to witness this clash, will be released by the NFL in due course. 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, ensuring loyal fans have the first opportunity to secure their place at this potentially historic game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
