The Chiefs have home-field advantage for playoff run. What that means & why it matters
With the NFL playoffs in full swing, the Kansas City Chiefs will host their first postseason matchup on home turf as they seek a third consecutive Super Bowl win.
The Chiefs notched a No. 1 seed in the NFL playoffs after winning the most games in the AFC during the regular season, earning them a week off during the first round of the playoffs. The Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas.
Under the NFL’s playoff rules, the No. 1-seeded Chiefs face the lowest-seeded remaining team in the AFC in their first playoff game.
That means the Chiefs will begin their playoff run on Saturday, Jan. 18, against the No. 4 seed Houston Texans, who defeated the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 11 in the Wild Card round.
As the No. 1 seed, the Chiefs also earn the right to home-field advantage, and will play the Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium at 3:30 p.m.
The No. 2 Buffalo Bills and the No. 3 Baltimore Ravens will then face each other at Highmark Stadium outside Buffalo on Jan. 19.
The winner of that game will face the winner of the game between the Chiefs and Texans for the AFC Championship on Jan. 26. If the Chiefs advance against the Texans, they will again host the next round at Arrowhead.
The winner of the AFC Championship Game will then play the NFC champions at the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 in New Orleans. The Detroit Lions are the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM.