In a surprise for fans, the AFC wild card clash between the Miami Dolphins and the eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs in January was only available via streaming – on Peacock. Although people were initially confused as to why they couldn’t watch the game on TV, it turned out to be a success for Peacock with a huge viewership.
No matter how inconvenient the new broadcast offensive is for fans – and players – streaming is here to stay. Have your wallet ready.
Following the success of last season, Peacock and the NFL are once again closely linked this season. The streaming-only program begins with Friday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, the first international game of 2024. It will also be the NFL’s first game in Brazil.
Why are there games on Peacock?
NBC began streaming Sunday Night Football online in 2008 and was the first NFL partner in the U.S. to stream the Super Bowl (2012). Peacock was a natural fit for NBC as companies aim to make streamers profitable while navigating the difficult transition from linear TV to digital. To get more sign-ups, streamers need more high-quality, exclusive content.
Peacock’s first exclusive NFL game was between the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Chargers on December 23, 2023. It averaged 7.3 million viewers, with a peak average of 8.4 million.
The Chiefs’ playoff game against the Dolphins was a huge audience success, with national Nielsen data showing 23 million viewers tuning in across Peacock, NBC’s Miami and Kansas City stations, and mobile with NFL+.
Chiefs CBs L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie intercept a pass intended for Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill in the AFC Wildcard game. (Photo: Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today)
How many games will there be on Peacock this season?
Friday’s game in Brazil is the only Peacocks exclusive game of the regular season. The game, which begins at 8:15 p.m. ET, will also be broadcast on NBC in Green Bay and Philadelphia, as well as on mobile with NFL+.
Peacock will stream a total of 22 regular season games, including 18 Sunday Night Football games, a Thanksgiving night game between the Dolphins and Packers, and a Week 16 game between the Chiefs and Houston Texans on Saturday, December 21.
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Will there be a playoff game this season that is only available via streaming?
Yes – but via Amazon Prime Video.
A year after Peacock broadcast a wild-card game, it’s Amazon’s turn in 2025. Amazon Prime Video will also be the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football starting in Week 2 and will broadcast the Black Friday game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs on November 29.
Are there any other games that are exclusive to streamers?
Netflix and ESPN+ will also have their moment as the exclusive home of an NFL game.
In Week 7, when the NFL plays two games on Monday night, one – the Los Angeles Chargers against the Arizona Cardinals – will only be broadcast on ESPN+.
Netflix, meanwhile, has landed two games for Christmas Day. The Chiefs will play the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET, while the Ravens and Texans will start at 4:30 p.m. ET.
For information on streaming NFL games on Fubo, click here Here.
(Top photo of Peacock commentators Jac Collinsworth, Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison (from left): Corey Perrine / Florida Times-Union / USA Today)
