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Teams agreed last week that the conference championship would be
played at a neutral site if the teams in it had completed an
unequal number of games and each could have been a number-one
seed.
The Bills were unable to complete their Week 17 matchup against
the Cincinnati Bengals after safety Damar Hamlin suffered a
cardiac arrest during the game in an incident that sent
shockwaves through the league.
Hamlin was discharged from a Buffalo hospital on Wednesday and
is expected to undergo rehab at home.
The agreement to contest an AFC Championship between the Bills
and Chiefs on a neutral site was designed to "mitigate the
competitive inequities" created by the cancellation of the Week
17 game.
"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 in a statement.
"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."
The Bills are expected to play the Miami Dolphins in their Wild
Card game on Sunday, while the Chiefs enjoy a playoff bye week.
The AFC Championship will take place Jan. 29, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Toby Davis)
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