The National Football League (NFL) has announced a contingency plan that could see Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, hosting a highly anticipated AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. This unprecedented scenario arises from the unique circumstances surrounding the Week 17 game cancellation between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.
Last week, NFL clubs approved a special resolution to address competitive imbalances resulting from the unfortunate cancellation. This resolution stipulated that if both the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs were to advance to the AFC Championship game, and if these teams had played an unequal number of games, potentially impacting their seeding and home-field advantage, then a neutral site would be selected for the championship game.
Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium has been designated as that neutral site. Chosen due to its central location, being almost equidistant from both Buffalo and Kansas City, Atlanta was already on the NFL’s radar as a potential backup host for postseason games even before the 2022 season commenced. This proactive planning ensures a world-class venue is ready should the Bills and Chiefs indeed face off for the AFC title. Importantly, this neutral site consideration is only applicable to a Bills-Chiefs AFC Championship matchup. All other potential AFC Championship game combinations will be played at the home stadium of the team with the higher seed, adhering to standard NFL playoff procedures.
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.â€
Further details regarding this potential neutral site game, including crucial ticket information, will be released by the NFL at a later date. It is important to note 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. For fans of high-stakes football and especially for followers of the Bills and Chiefs, the possibility of a neutral-site AFC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium adds an extra layer of intrigue to the NFL playoffs.
