• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

As Bills Seek Playoff Revenge vs. Chiefs, Viewers Will Be at Attention

The Bills and Chiefs clash in the NFL postseason for the fourth time in the last five years.

Oct 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) hugs Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Parity is one of the NFL’s biggest selling points, but the Chiefs are starting to become the counterpoint to that claim.

Kansas City will play its seventh consecutive AFC championship game Sunday as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs chase the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era. The path this year has been eerily similar to their recent playoff runs, including a battle with Josh Allen and the Bills.

Buffalo will face the Chiefs in the postseason for the fourth time in five years. It has served as one of Kansas City’s biggest foils, despite being 0–3 against the Chiefs in the postseason with Allen under center. But the last two games were decided by one score—including the controversial overtime game in the AFC divisional round in 2022 that influenced a change to the overtime rules in the playoffs.

Despite the ostensibly rinse-and-repeat scenario, the NFL is likely not complaining about this matchup. A battle between the Chiefs—the league’s best viewership draw this year—and their playoff rival all but guarantees massive ratings.

Playoff Pull 

Here are the viewership numbers from their last three postseason battles:

The AFC championship game in 2021 was the lone matchup that didn’t provide huge viewership numbers, especially considering it was deeper into the postseason than their last two games. But it was also their first duel in this era—so the rivalry had yet to be solidified—and the Chiefs won by 14 points.

The two teams met in the regular season on Nov. 17—the Chiefs’ only loss this year with Mahomes as a starter—and the game drew 31.1 million viewers. That was the most-watched regular-season game of the year, excluding Thanksgiving. 

Questioning the Refs 

A battle with the Bills isn’t the only thing about this Chiefs run that mirrors past years.

Opposing players have questioned whether the referees have given favorable calls to the Chiefs, and it continued after Kansas City’s divisional-round win over the Texans. Mahomes drew two penalty calls on drives in the first and third quarters that led to points. 

“We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game,” Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said after the game

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, whose team was eliminated by the Bills on Sunday, also expressed his disdain for Kansas City on social media.

“I have no reason of saying this other than being a hater. The Bills or whatever NFC team gotta beat the Chiefs. We can’t let them keep getting away with this,” Humphrey tweeted Tuesday.

And it’s not only the players. NFL game analyst Troy Aikman, who called the Texans-Chiefs game for ESPN, called out the refs—and for the league to take action. “I could not disagree with that one more. He barely gets hit,” Aikman said. “They’ve got to address that in the offseason.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

Fox Extends Erin Andrews, Charissa Thompson Contracts Ahead of NFL Season

Changes are coming at Fox, but Andrews and Thompson stay put.
Jul 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at PNC Park.

MLB ASG Missing Many Highly Paid Stars, Clearing Path for Youth

Many of MLB’s top earners are not part of the Midsummer Classic.
Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg speaks to the media during a press conference at the Dallas Mavericks Practice Facility.

Cooper Flagg–Bronny James Summer League Tickets Average $201

The average purchase price on resale platform TickPick is $201.

Texas Sports Teams, Leagues Donate Over $5M to Flood Relief

NFL, MLB, and NBA teams in Texas donate to flood recovery efforts.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
Paige Bueckers
exclusive

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.