The NFL is facing a ratings nightmare due to the success of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The networks could be deprived of the league's biggest teams and stars, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, for about a month.
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The Chiefs earned a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.
The win moved them to 15-1 for the season and clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Kansas City booked its spot with at least a game to go.
They are scheduled to face the Denver Broncos in a Week 18 game on January 4 or 5 to end the regular season.
Mahomes has an ankle injury and could be rested now that a playoff spot is secure.
Kelce, 35, is also waiting to rest to be fresh in the playoffs.
But with Kansas City already securing a bye – they won't participate in Wild Card Weekend.
Instead, he'll watch Mahomes and Co. The first round of the qualifiers on January 11, 12 and 13 at home.
The Chiefs' Divisional Round playoffs will begin the following week.
They will face the lowest remaining seed on January 18 or 19 at Arrowhead Stadium.
With their last game scheduled for December 25, Mahomes and Kelce could miss nearly a full month.
The Chiefs have appeared in a number of high-profile games already this season.
They open the 2024 regular season at home against the Baltimore Ravens in September.
Kansas City also played a Black Friday special on Amazon Prime against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Their recent run of three games in 11 days left television networks concerned about Mahomes' injury.
But he was able to play in the national television special on December 21 against the Houston Texans despite the ankle injury.
That game on NBC also featured a Madden-themed simulcast with Mahomes given the video game treatment.
The Chiefs have also been picked up for a Netflix special on Christmas Day.
The NFL signed the streaming giants to a three-year contract and put Mahomes at center on the offseason.
Netflix set a streaming record with nearly 65 million viewers in the US tuning in for part of the NFL's Christmas doubleheader.
