The upcoming Kansas City Chiefs’ Wild Card Round game in the AFC Playoffs against the Miami Dolphins is set to make history as the first NFL postseason game available exclusively on a streaming platform. The NFL has unveiled the full schedule for Super Wild Card Weekend, with the Chiefs facing the Dolphins at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
This pivotal matchup will be accessible solely through Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, marking a shift away from traditional broadcast methods. The Chiefs, seeded at No. 3, will strive to extend their impressive streak of five consecutive AFC Championships. The team’s star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, has yet to experience a road playoff game during his tenure.
The Chiefs previously clashed with the Dolphins on Nov. 5 in London, securing a 21-14 victory. Notably, this game will be a homecoming for Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Dolphins ahead of the 2022 season.
Full Super Wild Card Round Schedule:
Saturday, Jan. 13
- AFC: 4:30 p.m. (ET) (5) Cleveland Browns at (4) Houston Texans (NBC)
- AFC: 8:15 p.m. (ET) (6) Pittsburgh Steelers/Miami Dolphins/Buffalo Bills at (3) Kansas City Chiefs (Peacock)
Sunday, Jan. 14
- AFC: 1:00 p.m. (ET) (7) Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills/Miami Dolphins or Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins (CBS)
- NFC: 4:30 p.m. (ET) (7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Dallas Cowboys (FOX)
- NFC: 8:15 p.m. (ET) (6) Los Angeles Rams at (3) Detroit Lions (NBC)
Monday, Jan. 15
- NFC: 8:15 p.m. (ET) (5) Philadelphia Eagles at (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ESPN/ABC)
Peacock, the NBC streaming service, has secured exclusive rights to live stream the upcoming wild-card round matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins. The game will only be televised on NBC stations in Kansas City and Miami.
Viewers outside of these markets eager to witness the defending champions’ playoff journey will need to subscribe to Peacock. This marks the first time in NFL history that a playoff game will be exclusively aired on a streaming network.
NBC’s decision to feature one of the league’s most popular teams, the Chiefs, in this primetime window appears strategic. While NBC stations in the competing team cities will broadcast the game, it will also be available on mobile devices with NFL+. Peacock has reportedly paid an estimated $110 million to the NFL for the air rights to this groundbreaking event.
The success of this subscriber strategy remains uncertain. Last year’s six wild-card games across major networks averaged 28.8 million viewers. Although the Dolphins-Chiefs game on Peacock is unlikely to reach such numbers, if it surpasses the 20 million viewership mark, it could be deemed a significant victory for Peacock and the NFL.
