The Atlanta Falcons failed to make the NFL playoffs paving the way for their home stadium to become the site of a potential AFC Championship Game.
This potential game will be between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs.
If an AFC Championship Game is played at a neutral site between Buffalo and Kansas City, it will now be held in Atlanta.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2023
The NFL announced Thursday that Mercedes-Benz Stadium would be the site of the AFC Championship if a neutral site is necessary. The option is necessary because of the way playoff positioning has been determined. After the Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game on January 2 was called off after Bills DB Damar Hamlin collapsed in the first quarter. The NFL needed a backup plan if this happened. However, Hamlin is recovering very well after going into cardiac arrest.
“We are encouraged by Damar Hamlin’s continued improvement and progress in his recovery, and Damar and his family continue to be a priority for the entire NFL community,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
Goodell also stated that “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 clubs for their help in the planning process. We know that, if necessary, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium will provide a world-class environment for the competing teams, our fans and partners.”
The NFL also announced additional details for a Buffalo-Kansas City title game. Things like ticket information will be announced at a later date. Kansas City is about 800 miles from Atlanta, while Buffalo is about 892 miles from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That is the most neutral site one can find.
Both teams are heavy favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl according to NFL betting sites. Playing at a neutral site will be fair to both teams.
