NFL chooses neutral site for potential Chiefs-Bills AFC title game | KCSN Daily 1.12
Jet McKinnon wins AFC Player of the Month, KCSN podcasts and more Chiefs news
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The NFL announced on Thursday that Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia — home to the Atlanta Falcons — would serve as a neutral host site if the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills were to face off in the AFC Championship Game. NFL owners approved a resolution due to the cancellation of the Week 17 Buffalo-Cincinnati game, which included playing the AFC Championship Game at a neutral site to eliminate any competitive inequities related to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. All other potential AFC Championship Game matchups involving the Chiefs would take place at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
"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," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, via press release. "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."
Mercedes-Benz Stadium was identified by the NFL ahead of the 2022 season as a potential backup host site for postseason games. It’s also practically equidistant from Kansas City and Buffalo, making it an equitable solution for fans of both teams.
The league says that ticketing information will be announced at a later date, but Buffalo and Kansas City Season Ticket Members who previously committed to purchasing tickets to the AFC title game will have first priority when ticket sales open.
The Breakdown - Chiefs offense showed off in regular-season finale vs. Raiders:
Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and FanDuel TV's Matt Hamilton dive into the film to break down the Chiefs win over the Las Vegas Raiders and look ahead to the AFC Super Wild Card round.
Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon earns AFC Offensive Player of the Month honors for December/January:
Kansas City Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for the first time in his career. During December/January, McKinnon led the NFL with nine touchdowns (eight receiving, one rushing) and recorded a touchdown reception in each game. He became the first RB since 1970 with a touchdown reception in at least five consecutive games. Only three running backs — Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (2001), Chuck Foreman (1975) and Leroy Hoard (1991) — have scored nine touchdowns receptions in a single season during the Super Bowl era.
McKinnon is the sixth Chiefs running back to earn an AFC Offensive Player of the Month honor, joining Priest Holmes (two-time winner), Kareem Hunt, Larry Johnson (two-time winner), Christian Okoye and Barry Word. He’s also the first player who went to school at Georgia Southern to ever win the award.
(Photo via NFL)
Remember, vote for Kansas City Chiefs 2022 NFL Fan of the Year Nominee Dr. Amy Patel. You can vote multiple times until polls close on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Click the image above to listen to KCSN’s BJ Kissel exclusive interview with Dr. Patel.
Transactions:
1/12 - Signed to practice squad - DT Phil Hoskins
1/12 - Released from practice squad - WR/RB Jerrion Ealy
Read more about both transactions here.
KCSN Update:
KCSN’s Tucker Franklin and Matt Lane hand out awards to the most improved player, rookie of the year, defensive player of the year, offensive player of the year, and most valuable non-Patrick Mahomes player on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Quotable:
"You have to have fun out there. We practice hard. We go out there and we try to get the best out every single day, but the coaches let us have fun. That's what keeps us going. It's a long season. A lot of practices and sometimes you just want to play the games. We built this culture of, 'Let's go out there and practice, have a great time doing it, enjoy it, have fun, but same time, let's be great.' That stuff was here before I even got here, and I'm just glad I'm in this organization and get to do it every single day." - Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on creative play-calling
I feel like it benefits our defense, just getting some rest. Our guys got banged up, dinged up in the back half of the season. So it’s an opportunity to get healthy, get fresh and just kind of clean up some small things. We played on Saturday, played on Sunday and then played on Saturday again, so it has kind of been quick turnarounds. We get to go back and watch tape on some stuff we can clean up from our prior games and clean that stuff up heading into the playoffs. - Chiefs LB Nick Bolton on the bye week
Quick Hits:
From the Chiefs: The team announced their 2022 playoff campaign — they’re searching for a fan with a great gameday ritual to sign a one-day contract with the team as “Chiefs Ritual Officer.” The team also announced collaborations with Travis Kelce’s Tru Kolors brand and actor Henry Winkler. Find out more here.

From Nationwide: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was this year’s winner of the WPMOY Charity Challenge. That means his 15 and the Mahomies foundation will earn a $25K donation from Nationwide. He’s the third consecutive winner WPMOY Charity Challenge for Kansas City (Tyrann Mathieu/2022 and Travis Kelce/2021).


From Week 18: Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie was mic’d up for Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders. His reactions on the sideline to some of the plays from the offense were priceless.
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