Why the AFC Championship game might be played a neutral site: Explained

The AFC Championship game has a lot riding on it as it will decide which team from the conference makes it to the Super Bowl. However, this season's Conference Championship game will have a rather unusual set-up

As things stand, the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first AFC divisional round game of the weekend. The Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals will then play out their second game later on Saturday.

According to reports, if the Chiefs and Bills qualify for the Championship game, the matchup will be held at a neutral venue. The neutral site for a potential contest will be played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Atlanta, Georgia.

This change in location for the game is based solely on the Week 17 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills which was canceled due to Damar Hamlin's injury.

The Chiefs topped the AFC standings with a 14-3 record. However, the Bills could have matched them if they won their game against Cincinnati. As their Week 17 clash was suspended and never resumed, Buffalo finished with a 13-3 record after playing only 16 regular-season games.

The Bills also have a better head-to-head record against the Chiefs, having beaten them in Week 6. Hence, as they missed one regular-season game, the NFL decided that any potential AFC Championship game between the Bills and Chiefs will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

AFC Championship schedule and how it will work in 2023

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes

The Championship game for the AFC will be held on Sunday, January 29th, at 6:30 pm ET. Here are the locations where the AFC Championship game will take place depending on the possible results:

• Chiefs win, Bills win – Championship game held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium neutral site
• Chiefs win, Bengals win – Chiefs host Championship game
• Jaguars win, Bills win – Bills host Championship game
• Jaguars win, Bengals win – Bengals host Championship game