Patrick Mahomes is a globally recognized athlete whose branding knows no bounds. Travis Kelce is an icon who has transcended the game of football to become a household name in any sphere. The Kansas City Chiefs have been and will remain one of the premier franchises in sports.
As it turns out, however, the National Football League isn't so dependent upon them after all.
The first round of the 2025 postseason has provided a reminder that the sport itself is the draw without the Chiefs in it. Last weekend's divisional-round games featured a Saturday afternoon AFC showdown at Mile High between the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos. And the drama of the game itself, an overtime thriller that came down to a Will Lutz chip shot to win the game for the home team, was enough to lure record audiences.
Per CBS, the Bills-Broncos broadcast (say that three times fast) averaged an incredible 39.6 million viewers throughout the afternoon. In overtime, that number climbed to over 51 million. It became the most watched NFL's most-watched Saturday playoff game ever in the process.
The NFL doesn’t need the Kansas City Chiefs to draw massive audiences. Instead, close, high-stakes games are enough to set new records.
The previous record holder was part of the lore that the Chiefs reigned supreme. Last year's divisional-round contest between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs set the previous record. In case you don't remember, the Chiefs' 23-14 victory featured 3 sacks from George Karlaftis and a banner day for Kelce, who had 7 passes for 117 yards and 1 touchdown.
Of course, the Chiefs remain an elite viewership draw. No one would ever deny that, which is why even after a six-win season, fans can bet on as many primetime showings for Kansas City in 2026 as ever. It's also why the league's broadcast partners fight over the chance to showcase K.C. at key moments. This year's Chiefs' game against the Dallas Cowboys set an all-time record with 57.2 million viewers on Thanksgiving despite featuring two flawed teams.
The next record to fall would be the AFC Championship ratings, which drew 57.4 million viewers last year between Buffalo and Kansas City, setting a record in the process. It remains to be seen whether Bo Nix's injury will alter things, but if the competition becomes lopsided, then K.C.'s record might stand. Either way, the NFL has learned that close games will draw epic numbers of fans, no matter if the Chiefs are involved or not. It certainly helps, but they're not dependent on them to set new marks.