Chiefs face more travel chaos after Broncos clash as fresh blizzard warning sweeps through Kansas City
Win or lose, it could be a long trip home for the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday as the reigning Super Bowl champions could find themselves in even more travel chaos as snowstorms continue to pound the Midwest.
After finally arriving in Denver on Saturday night following an hours-long flight delay, Patrick Mahomes and co. will face their AFC West rivals on Sunday in the final week of the NFL regular season.
The No. 1-seeded Chiefs will be thankful for their postseason bye week, though, because coming home could be a new challenge.
A blizzard warning has been extended to the entire Kansas City Metro, with the affected area spreading across both Kansas and Missouri, according to Fox4 News.
Winds of 6 to 12 inches, snow of 6 to 12 inches and near whiteout conditions are forecast for Sunday into the early hours of Monday morning, potentially putting the Chiefs’ return trip into doubt.
It comes after the Chiefs left Kansas City four hours behind schedule, with the winter storm leaving the team plane on the runway.
The Kansas City Chiefs finally landed in Denver on Saturday after a chaotic day of travel
After hours of delay, the Chiefs finally landed in the Mile High City, with Mahomes and Travis Kelce filmed stepping off the plane on the snowy runway.
According to Fox4 News, the Chiefs were scheduled to leave for Denver on Saturday around 2:45 p.m. But it wasn’t until around 6:30 PM ET when they finally left.
The storm led to “rapid ice accumulations” and forced authorities to close the airfield at Kansas City International Airport – before the Chiefs could depart.
According to Fox4 News, the airport’s de-icing machine malfunctioned, delaying flight departures.
Some planes, it was said, were even diverted to Omaha, Nebraska – more than 500 miles east of Denver.
According to reports, the Chiefs tried to change their travel plans to leave earlier in the day.
But the charter plane that transported them to Denver arrived late in Kansas City, forcing Reid and Co. to stick to their scheduled departure time.
Andy Reid’s team will take on the 9-7 Broncos on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET. It’s usually only a two-hour flight from Denver to Kansas City.
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were among the players who traveled to Colorado
But even if the Chiefs manage to take off from Denver, it remains to be seen if they can land back home in Kansas City.
Quarterback Mahomes will be rested for the game against the Broncos, with the Chiefs already securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
There was some doubt about whether Mahomes would travel with the team, as he and his wife Brittany are expecting their third child “any day now.”
Kelce was also able to sit out Sunday’s game, but on Saturday both stars were filmed walking to the runway in Colorado.