Falcons vs. Chiefs 2020: game time, TV schedule and how to watch live online

The Game

For NFL Week 16, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Atlanta Falcons at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is set for Noon (Arrowhead Time) on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on FOX — locally on WDAF/4.

AFC West champions for the fifth straight season, the Chiefs need a victory (or a loss by the Buffalo Bills or Pittsburgh Steelers) to clinch the AFC’s only postseason bye. A win would also guarantee the team a season record of at least 14-2, which would be its best over the team’s 61-year history.

Now tied for the third in the NFC South with a 4-10 record, the Falcons will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak decided by a total of 14 points — most recently a 31-27 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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The two teams’ offenses will be led by former first-round draft picks who made dramatic entrances to the NFL.

In his first season as a starter, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Falcons signal-caller Matt Ryan was named Offensive Rookie of the Year after his debut campaign in 2008 — and was also named NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 2016, in which he led the Falcons to Super Bowl LI only to fall to the New England Patriots 34-28. Mahomes fared better in his first Super Bowl appearance last season, leading a fourth-quarter comeback to collect a 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers — and the Super Bowl MVP award.

Both teams also feature elite wide receivers, but it’s possible neither will play because of hamstring injuries. Longtime Atlanta star Julio Jones was listed out in Week 16’s final injury report, while Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill was listed as questionable. Other Chiefs who will be missing the game include first-round rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, along with starting linebackers Damien Wilson and Anthony Hitchens. The Falcons will also be without starting center Alex Mack, starting guard James Carpenter and cornerback Darqueze Dennard.

The two teams have played each other only nine times since the Falcons joined the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1966, last playing in Atlanta during 2016’s Week 13. In that game, Kansas City safety Eric Berry sealed a victory by intercepting a fourth-quarter pass during a two-point conversion attempt, returning it for a defensive score that turned the Falcons’ potential 30-27 lead into a 29-28 deficit with less than five minutes remaining. It was Atlanta’s final loss before reaching the Super Bowl.

Nuts and bolts

Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Playing surface: Natural grass

Game time: Noon Arrowhead Time, Sunday, December 27, 2020

Weather forecast: Sunny and 46, winds W at 11 mph

Parking lots open: 8 a.m.

Stadium gates open: 10 a.m.

Pageantry: Colors: Kansas City Missouri Fire Department. National Anthem: Clay Walker. Drum Deck Honoree: Whittier Elementary School principal Phillena Layne. Spirit Leader: Operation Breakthrough president Mary Esselman.

COVID-19 personal items policy: Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, please note that no bags — including previously-approved clear bags, small clutch bags and wallets that can’t fit in pockets — will be permitted inside the stadium. Guests should only bring items that can fit into their pockets. For guests with medical- or childcare-related items such as diapers, wipes, formula, bottles or breast pumps, those items must be brought in a clear plastic bag and guests should present their bag to staff during the screening process. Fans can visit chiefs.com/stadium/prohibitedpermitteditems for a complete list of permitted and prohibited items.

COVID-19 Tailgating: All parking must be purchased in advance; payments will not be accepted at the parking tollgates. All fans will have a designated parking entrance based on their seat location that will put them in close proximity to their designated entry zone. All parking for the 2020 season will be general (red) parking and is only open to ticket holders. Tailgating is permitted, but vehicles will be parked in an every-other-spot pattern to accommodate social distancing. Tailgating is limited to the individuals who have tickets in the same pod.

Other COVID-19 notes: Know your zone — which is found on your ticket — and have a plan to enter through the assigned parking and stadium gates. Circumnavigation of the stadium is not permitted in order to minimize contact with other guests. Wear your masks at all times — even when seated. Fans must wear masks into the stadium, but each fan will receive a mask supplied by the team in their cupholder. Maintain social distancing along your entire journey and wait for aisles to clear before exiting your seats. Please have patience — and know that everyone is in this together. Be a good teammate and help the Chiefs protect all of their fans.

Matchup history: 6-3 Chiefs (regular season)

Odds: Chiefs -10.5

Officials: Referee Craig Wrolstad (4), umpire Ruben Fowler (71), down judge Jerry Bergman (91), line judge Tom Eaton (87), field judge Dave Hawkshaw (107), side judge Aaron Santi (50) and back judge Keith Ferguson (61) .

Television broadcast: with Kevin Burkhardt, Daryl Johnston and Pam Oliver on WDAF (FOX/4-Kansas City), Chiefs Mobile App, WAGA (FOX/5-Atlanta) and FOX affiliates nationwide — see coverage map

Online Stream: Fubo.TV

Chiefs radio broadcast: with Mitch Holthus, Danan Hughes and Josh Klingler on WDAF (106.5 FM-Kansas City) and Chiefs Radio Network affiliates

Chiefs Spanish radio broadcast: with Enrique Morales, Oscar Monterroso and Hannah Bassham on KCWJ (1030 AM-Kansas City)

Falcons radio broadcast: with Wes Durham and Dave Archer on WZCG (92.9 FM-Atlanta) and Falcons Radio Network affiliates

Enemy SB Nation site: The Falcoholic

Twitter: Arrowhead Pride

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