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The Kansas City Chiefs have solidified themselves as the NFL's most successful team since Patrick Mahomes took over as starting quarterback in 2018. With three Super Bowl victories in four appearances, they are chasing an unprecedented three-peat in league history. Adding to their dominance, the Chiefs have reached the AFC Championship Game in seven consecutive seasons.
That streak is just one shy of the record eight consecutive appearances set by the New England Patriots from 2011-2018, during which Tom Brady and company captured three Super Bowl titles. With Mahomes at the helm, it seems highly likely that Kansas City will sur the Patriots' record, barring any unforeseen setbacks, but with how competitive the AFC will be next year, especially in the West, it's worth doubting.
Chiefs vs Texans ESPN's Most-Watched NFL Game Ever
Their consistent postseason presence has made the Chiefs a ratings magnet, culminating in record-breaking viewership for the Texans-Chiefs divisional round matchup. The game drew an astounding 32.7 million viewers, making it ESPN's most-watched NFL game ever. This number sures any other regular season or playoff game televised by ESPN since 1987. Projections suggest the audience could top 33 million when Nielsen releases final numbers. This achievement underscores the cultural significance of the team, which has been enhanced by the NFL's marketing strategies and even the media buzz surrounding Taylor Swift's appearances at Chiefs games, believe it or not, Swift has a positive effect on the NFL.
ESPN's coverage of the Texans-Chiefs game set additional benchmarks. It became the most-watched Saturday afternoon divisional game in a decade and Disney's most-watched NFL broadcast outside of the Super Bowl. The audience peaked at 38.5 million viewers in a 15-minute period, demonstrating the immense appeal of Mahomes and the Chiefs. The event also outperformed all previous Disney televised playoff games in the past 29 years, including those on ABC and ESPN combined.
In of viewership, the Texans-Chiefs game (32,701,000) eclipsed previous record-breaking matchups such as the Texans-Ravens game in January 2024 (32,306,000) and the Cowboys-Buccaneers wild-card game in January 2023 (31,201,000). I imagine the game we will see on Sunday will break the record for most watched conference finals because Allen and Mahomes have given us a great shows before.
As the Chiefs maintain their position as one of the NFL's most popular and competitive franchises, their focus now turns to the Buffalo Bills. The showdown will be another test for Kansas City, as Josh Allen and the Bills present a significant challenge. Mahomes may have an undefeated playoff record against Allen, but Buffalo has proven capable of beating the Chiefs in regular season play, including a win earlier this year in week 11. With both teams tied in their last 10 meetings - each winning five games, scoring 251 points and allowing 251 points - the stage is set for another epic battle in Kansas City.