• Loading stock data...
Monday, May 5, 2025

The NFL’s Wild, Wild, Wild Card Weekend

  • A playoff game was delayed by an entire day for the first time ever.
  • Chiefs-Dolphins became the most-streamed event in U.S. history.
Buffalo Bills
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL just wrapped up an unprecedented wild card weekend that made history around severe weather, new-age media, and postseason formatting.

On Monday, the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers game became the first NFL playoff matchup to be postponed by an entire day, in this case due to several feet of snow hitting the Buffalo area over the weekend. (In 2017, a Steelers-Kansas City Chiefs game was postponed from 1 p.m. ET to 8:20 p.m. because of wintry weather.) The Bills paid shovelers $20 an hour ahead of the game to clear snow inside Highmark Stadium, and when the Steelers arrived in Buffalo, they required a snow plow to accompany their typical police escort to their hotel. This weekend’s move also led to the first time the NFL has played a pair of playoff games on three consecutive days.

And that all came after the Chiefs’ victory over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night made headlines for frigid temperatures. At -4°, the game in Kansas City went down as the fourth-coldest in NFL history (though it will be remembered, no doubt, for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid’s frozen mustache).

Beyond the weather, Chiefs-Dolphins, which aired on Peacock, became the most-streamed event in U.S. history, averaging 23 million viewers, despite some fans’ outrage last week about the game being available exclusively on the streamer. (That audience number does include viewership from local stations in Miami and K.C., as is standard in reporting for all exclusively-streamed NFL games.) The Chiefs-Dolphins stream beat out last year’s Saturday night wild card matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers, which drew 20.6 million viewers on NBC. Peacock paid $110 million rights to this year’s wild card game, which will be up for auction again this offseason and intended for a streaming audience.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

F1 Doubles Down on U.S. With Record-Setting Miami GP Extension

After four editions of the race, F1 is loving South Florida.

Leeds’ Rise: NFL Playbook, Premier League Stakes, ‘Untapped Potential’

Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe is bullish on surviving in the Premier League.

Kentucky Derby Sets Ratings, Betting Records Despite Attendance Dip

The crowd of 147,406 at Churchill Downs was down 6% from last year.
Apr 12, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; MLB umpire Ron Kulpa (46) calls a third strike during a game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field

Pro Refs Get Offered Free Lasik for Better Calls. Some Took It

Some pro officials have sprung for the offer for free corrective surgery.

Featured Today

Athlos

Nike Wants to Pull Off the First Women’s Sub-4:00 Mile

Experts speak on whether Nike’s “moonshot” is realistic or a gimmick.
Mint juelps
May 3, 2025

Inside the 120,000-Cup Mint Julep Frenzy of Kentucky Derby Weekend

The official cocktail at Churchill Downs costs $22—or $5,000.
May 1, 2025

How Larry Collmus Became the Longest-Running Kentucky Derby Caller

Collmus will call his 15th straight Derby on NBC.
Apr 25, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium
April 30, 2025

The Pirates Are Struggling, But Paul Skenes Fever Is Still Spreading

The 22-year-old pitcher is (finally) giving Pittsburgh something to cheer for.

Sovereignty Wins Kentucky Derby, $3.1M Purse

The total purse was raised to $5 million last year.
May 2, 2025

TGL Team Owner Marc Lasry: TV Ratings Peak Was 4X Better Than..

Lasry said TGL would have been happy with 250,000 viewers per match.
Jun 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) passes the ball against Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith (1) during the second half of a basketball game at Wintrust Arena.
May 2, 2025

WNBA Takes Its Preseason College Series to a New Level

Multiple preseason WNBA games will be broadcast nationally.
Sponsored

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

Portfolio Players is our bi-weekly spotlight on the athletes and investors reshaping the business of sports. This week, venture capitalist Kai Cunningham unpacks why athletes land top deals and how the usual investing rules don’t always apply.
May 2, 2025

Mets, Dodgers, Pitch Clock Push MLB to Best April Attendance Since 2017

The league eyes a third straight boost at the gates this season.
May 1, 2025

Liberty Media Faces Rising Speculation Over Potential F1 Sale

Pending sale rumors persist around the motorsports property.
Jul 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) shoots the ball against LA Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) and LA Sparks forward Rickea Jackson (2) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena.
May 1, 2025

‘We’ve Been Aggressive’: WNBPA Director on CBA Negotiations

Priorities include improved salaries and more accessible maternity benefits.
April 30, 2025

NHL Coaching Carousel Spins Fast, Even for Highest-Paid

Eight teams are currently looking for new head coaches.