• Loading stock data...
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Tune in on Dec. 11 at 1:05 p.m. ET for our last Future of Sports virtual summit of the year – Future of Sports: Marketing! Register Now

NFL’s Schedule Points to Network Strategies: Chiefs Lead, Texans Rise

  • The two-time defending champions are a fixture across many of the league’s tentpole events.
  • The upcoming slate is optimized in many ways for more viewership growth.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL’s media partners have made no secret a big part of their plan to achieve more ratings growth in the 2024 season: ride the Chiefs as far as they’ll go. 

With Wednesday night’s release of the full, 272-game regular-season schedule, the two-time defending Super Bowl winners are playing perhaps an even bigger role among the various networks than what might have been expected for any other title winner. Kansas City will host the season-opening game on Sept. 5 against the Ravens, a previously announced matchup that maintains current NFL practice of beginning the season in the home stadium of the defending Super Bowl champion. 

But the Chiefs are a significant presence in many other tentpole parts of the schedule. Among the key dates for the team:

  • A high-profile Sept. 15 matchup against the Bengals that will be the first late-afternoon Sunday national game of the season for CBS. 
  • A Black Friday game against the Raiders. Amazon will again carry that game, and is aiming for a better result than last year’s somewhat-disappointing result for the debut edition with Jets-Dolphins.
  • A Saturday game on Dec. 21 against the Texans that is a newly added part of NBC Sports’ schedule and will be shown nationally. 
  • A Christmas Day game against the Steelers that is part of the much-anticipated entry of Netflix into NFL game broadcasts.
  • Four additional primetime appearances across NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football and ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

It’s all part of an effort by the NFL and its media partners to pursue a repeat of the banner 2023 campaign that included an across-the-board sweep of ratings increases in the regular season and every part of the playoffs. As the NFL continues to separate out its schedule to create more standalone games, the Chiefs over the upcoming season will play on every day of the week with the exception of a Tuesday.

More Schedule Highlights

Almost every year, there is a team that is positioned as a breakout story, based in part on the rise in national TV appearances on the schedule. Last year, that team was the Lions. And this year, it’s the Texans, who are coming off a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs and have both the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year (C.J. Stroud) and Defensive Rookie of the Year (Will Anderson Jr.) from last year on the roster.

The Texans will be featured this year in six national appearances, including Christmas Day against the Ravens and that Dec. 21 game in Kansas City.

Amazon, meanwhile, will be getting all 14 playoff teams on its 2024 schedule for Thursday Night Football, while NBC Sports has 13 games involving matchups of postseason participants last year, ESPN has the much-anticipated Harbaugh Bowl on Nov. 25 between the Ravens (coached by John Harbaugh) and Chargers (coached by Jim Harbaugh), CBS Sports will air at least eight Chiefs games—twice as many as any other network, and Fox Sports will show the Super Bowl LVIII rematch between the Chiefs and 49ers on Oct. 20. 

Social Media Frenzy

The Super Bowl for NFL players arrives in February. But the Super Bowl for each team’s social media staff arrives on the day of the schedule release, and this year was no exception as each of them sought to showcase their upcoming slate. 

Inventive displays of the schedule were developed by teams such as the Chargers, Rams, Ravens, and Falcons

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Nov 2, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines cheerleader runs with a flag before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Michigan Stadium.
opinion

College Football’s Billionaire Backer Era Begins

Is this the new normal in CFB recruiting?

Championship Paydays: Coaches Cash In on Conference Title Wins

Kirby Smart earns bonuses for Georgia’s SEC title win, securing a CFP bye.
Old Commanders logo

Commanders Plan to Bring Back Old Logo on Special Alumni Merchandise

The Commanders are bringing back their old logo in limited fashion.
Iowa’s Kate Martin waves to the crowd during a celebration of the Iowa women’s basketball team Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

WNBA’s Valkyries Assemble Roster With Fan Favorite Kate Martin

It’s the WNBA’s first expansion draft since 2008.

Featured Today

LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic (9) celebrates with midfielder Riqui Puig (10) after scoring a goal against Seattle Sounders FC in the second half in the 2024 MLS Cup Western Conference Final match at Dignity Health Sports Park

With or Without Messi, Major League Soccer Is Barreling Into the Future

After the Cup final, the league looks to accelerate its growth.
Dec 18, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; FIFA president Gianni Infantino claps during the awards ceremony after the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium.
December 2, 2024

FIFA Wants More Matches. Resistance Is Growing Inside the Global Soccer World

Resentment and frustration over expanded schedules is nearing a breaking point.
November 30, 2024

U.S. Investors Are Gunning for England’s Small Soccer Clubs

Is another Hollywood-like success story possible among the U.K.’s smallest clubs?
Nov 1, 2024; Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) leads the team onto the field prior to the first quarter against the San Diego State Aztecs at Albertsons Stadium.
November 29, 2024

Schools Are Scrambling to Prepare for the NCAA Revenue-Sharing Era

In the post–House v. NCAA world, “everyone’s kind of on their own.”

NHL Winter Classic Shifts to New Year’s Eve Seeking Viewership Boost

The NHL moved its Winter Classic to December for the first time.
December 5, 2024

Netflix Tackles Buffering Woes Just in Time for NFL, WWE Debuts

The streaming giant says it has “learned” from the Paul-Tyson fight.
Randy Moss
December 6, 2024

Randy Moss Taking ‘Extended’ ESPN Leave With Health Issue

Moss had discussed it on Dec. 1 before stepping away.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Sep 28, 2024; Ile Bizard, Quebec, CAN; Max Homa of team U.S.A. putts on the first green during the foursomes (alternate) round of The Presidents Cup golf tournament.
December 5, 2024

The PGA Tour Wants More Players to Become Social Media Stars

YouTube golf is quickly gaining ground on the professional game.
Oct 19, 2024; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Fifa president Gianni Infantino (left) and Inter Miami CF co-owner Jose Mas (right) celebrate Inter Miami CF post match against the New England Revolution at Chase Stadium.
December 4, 2024

Club World Cup Ends Up on DAZN After Apple Deal Falls Through

DAZN will stream all 63 tournament matches for free starting next June.
December 4, 2024

ESPN Gets Prime Real Estate on Disney+. What’s Included?

Sports content will reach tens of millions of additional streaming subscribers.
December 3, 2024

Lions-Bears Sets Early Thanksgiving TV Record, Still Trails Cowboys

CBS drew an average of 37.4 million viewers for Bears-Lions on Thursday.