Divisional Playoffs Had 6 Degrees of Chiefs Separation

Six connections between NFL's playoff weekend and recent Chiefs history.

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) celebrates after scoring the winning touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during overtime in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs weren’t involved in the NFL’s divisional playoffs for the first time since 2017, Patrick Mahomes’ rookie season.

But the Chiefs were still there, like second-degree connections on LinkedIn. Here are six of them.

Jan 13, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) and cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) break up a pass intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during the second half of the 2024 AFC wild card game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

L.A. Rams at Chicago

1-Chilly receptions

• The Bears hosted the NFL’s coldest kickoff (19 degrees, 7-degree wind chill) since Kansas City’s wild-card win over the Dolphins in the 2023 playoffs. That day, Jan. 13, 2024, the temperature was minus-4, with wind chills as cold as minus-27). Kansas City won, 26-7, in the fourth-coldest game in NFL history.

2-Thuney comfortable at left tackle

• All-Pro guard Joe Thuney started for Chicago at left tackle, his first game at the position since Super Bowl 59 with Kansas City. Thuney had to move to tackle because Ozzy Trapilo sustained a patellar tendon injury – the same injury that ended Josh Simmons’ college career – and is out for the season.

Sep 24, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney (62) lines up against the Chicago Bears during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

• Thuney started six games late in the season for Kansas City, including all three playoff contests, at left tackle. Kingsley Suamataia, who opened the 2024 campaign at left tackle, wound up starting all 17 games in 2025 for the Chiefs in Thuney’s former position, left guard.

Houston at New England

3-Patriots back in AFC championship

Former Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel advanced the Patriots to the AFC championship game for the first time since 2018, when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium to advance to their last Super Bowl together.

Nov 15, 2009; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel (50) during the game against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

4-Patriots, Chiefs have dominated AFC for 15 years

The Patriots combined with Kansas City to extend an amazing NFL streak. For a 15th consecutive AFC title game, either the Patriots or Chiefs will participate. The last time neither team appeared in the contest was the 2010 season, when Pittsburgh beat the New York Jets.

Jan 20, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) checks the defense in the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

San Francisco at Seattle

5-The need for Rashid speed

• Rashid Shaid opened the floodgates by returning the opening kickoff 95 yards for a Seahawks touchdown, first blood in Seattle’s 41-6 victory. The last time an NFL player returned a game-opening kick for a postseason touchdown was Kansas City’s Knile Davis, a 105-yard score at Houston in the 2015 wild-card playoffs.

Jan 9, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Knile Davis (34) reacts after retuning the opening kickoff for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first quarter in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images | John David Mercer-Imagn Images

• The 30-0 win was the only shutout in Andy Reid’s Chiefs career until Kansas City beat the Raiders, 31-0, on Oct. 19 this season.

There were 2 other game-opening kickoff return TDs in playoffs before 2000 per @sportradar:
Nat Moore for Dolphins vs #Raiders in 1974 div round
Vic Washington for #49ers vs Cowboys in 1972 div round https://t.co/4cS54qR3l9

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) January 18, 2026

Buffalo at Denver

6-Mecole Hardman ran familiar play

Buffalo got on the board in the first quarter with the same play the Chiefs used to win Super Bowl 58 in overtime against San Francisco: A short pass to Mecole Hardman. It was actually the last time Hardman touched a football in a playoff game, a 3-yard reception from Mahomes. After leaving the Chiefs following the 2024 season, Hardman wound up in Buffalo and was elevated from the practice squad the day before the game.

Reminder: The Chiefs actually stole Corn Dog's "shuttle" motion from the Bills in 2021. So Bills just used their own play on that Hardman TD: https://t.co/VYcFfUGC5M

— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) January 17, 2026

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