In a twist for fans, January’s AFC wild-card matchup between the Miami Dolphins and eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs was only available to stream — on Peacock. While people were initially confused as to why they couldn’t watch the game on TV, it proved to be a hit for Peacock, with a ratings bonanza.

So no matter how inconvenient fans — and players — find the new broadcasting push, streaming is here to stay. Hold on to your wallets.

Following last season’s success, Peacock and the NFL are once again intertwined this season. The streaming-only slate kicks off with Friday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, the first international game of 2024. It’s also the NFL’s first game in Brazil.

Why are there games on Peacock?

NBC began streaming “Sunday Night Football” online in 2008 and was the first NFL affiliate in the U.S. to stream the Super Bowl (in 2012). Peacock became a natural fit for NBC as companies look to make streamers profitable while navigating the treacherous transition from linear TV to digital. To attract more sign-ups, streamers need more high-quality, exclusive content.

Peacock’s first exclusive NFL game will air on December 23, 2023, featuring the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers. The game averaged 7.3 million viewers and peaked at an average of 8.4 million.

The Chiefs-Dolphins playoff game proved to be a huge ratings success, with Nielsen custom fast national data showing 23 million viewers tuning in across Peacock, NBC affiliates in Miami and Kansas City, and on mobile with NFL+.

Chiefs CBs L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie break up a pass intended for Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill in the AFC wild-card game. (Photo: Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today)

How many games will be aired on Peacock this season?

Friday’s game in Brazil is the only Peacock exclusive of the regular season. The game, which starts at 8:15 p.m. ET, will also be broadcast on NBC in Green Bay and Philadelphia, and on mobile devices with NFL+.

Peacock will stream a total of 22 regular season games, including 18 “Sunday Night Football” games.

Peacock’s regular season lineup includes 18 “Sunday Night Football” games, a Thanksgiving night game between the Dolphins and Packers, and a Week 16 game between the Chiefs and Houston Texans on Saturday, December 21.

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Will there be a streaming-only playoff game this season?

Yes, but through Amazon Prime Video.

A year after Peacock aired a wild-card game, Amazon will get its turn in 2025. Amazon Prime Video will also be the exclusive home of “Thursday Night Football” beginning in Week 2 and will air the Black Friday game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs on Nov. 29.

Are there any other games that are exclusive to streamers?

Netflix and ESPN+ will also have their moment as exclusive home of an NFL game.

In Week 7, when the NFL plays two games on Monday nights, one of them (the Chargers vs. the Arizona Cardinals) will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+.

Netflix, meanwhile, has picked up two Christmas Day games. The Chiefs will play the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET, while the Ravens and Texans will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET.

(Top photo of Peacock commentators Jac Collinsworth, Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison (from left): Corey Perrine / Florida Times-Union / USA Today)