KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP/The Guardian) — The Kansas City Chiefs successfully departed from Kansas City International Airport and arrived in Denver after enduring nearly four hours stranded on the tarmac due to an ice storm that hit the city ahead of an impending blizzard. This delay, compounded by the team’s attempts to reschedule their flight ahead of deteriorating conditions, stemmed from the flight's original aircraft facing its own delays and arriving late. Just prior to takeoff, as weather conditions worsened, airport officials announced a suspension of flight operations due to “rapid ice accumulation.” Fortunately, a short window between the ice and the anticipated heavy snowfall provided enough time to de-ice their plane, allowing the Chiefs to take off.

The Chiefs’ chartered flight marked the first to leave once the airport resumed normal operations, with social media updates capturing players exiting the plane around 8:25 PM CT (AP News). Despite their late arrival, the Chiefs, who hold a record of 15-1 and have already secured the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, faced little significance in the game against Denver. However, a victory for the Broncos would be critical for them, potentially clinching their own playoff spot.

In a strategic move, Chiefs coach Andy Reid indicated plans to rest quarterback Patrick Mahomes, with backup Carson Wentz set to start. Other key players, including right tackle Jawaan Taylor and running back Isiah Pacheco, have been ruled out due to injuries, while stars like defensive tackle Chris Jones and tight end Travis Kelce were expected to sit out the match. The Chiefs will learn their playoff opponent following this regular season finale, with the earliest possibility to play in the divisional round being on January 18.

For further details, visit The Guardian.