A special NFL doubleheader will take place on Saturday, December 21, starting with a matchup of the division winners at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., with the Houston Texans taking on the Kansas City Chiefs.
The game is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM EST and will be broadcast NBC. Fans who want to watch this NFL game can do so for free by using FuboTVwhich offers RedZone, a free trial and $30 off the first month, or DirecTV Streamwhich also offers a free trial and RedZone. SlingTV has promotional offers available, and NFL+ broadcast all local market games. Also, games can be seen on NBC peacock.
The Chiefs (13-1) are 7-0 at home and riding a four-game winning streak after their only loss of the season. The roster is in position to clinch the top seed in the conference and the bye week for the postseason. On Christmas, Kansas City will face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Texans are 9-5 and looking to move up from the four seed, which likely means jumping the winner of the AFC North. Houston is a game behind the current division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and tied with the Baltimore Ravens, who play the Steelers on Saturday and the Texans on Christmas.
Also, for this game, there will be a special broadcast exclusive to Peacock where the game will look like the Madden video game.
WHO: Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs
when: Saturday, December 21 at 1 pm EST
where: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
current: fuboTV (free trial); or Sling; DirecTV Stream (free trial); or NFL+ or peacock
What is FuboTV?
FuboTV is an Internet TV service that offers more than 200 sports and entertainment channels, including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international sports tournaments, there’s plenty to choose from at FuboTV, which offers a free trial and $30 off the first month for new customers.
What is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream it offers pretty much everything that DirecTV offers, except for a remote control and a streaming device to connect to your TV. Sign up now and enjoy three free months of premium channels included MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz.
What is SlingTV?
SlingTV offers a variety of live programs ranging from news and sports and from as little as $20 per month for the first month. Subscribers also get a free month of DVR Plus if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages with no long-term contracts and easy cancellation.
What is NFL+?
NFL+ and NFL+ Premium gives fans access to the most NFL content available online. From game replays, coaches’ film and 22 on-field angles of games to original NFL Network programming, NFL+ and NFL + Premium allow fans to stay fully connected with every team in the NFL no matter where you are in the country.
What is Peacock?
peacock is home to the Premier League, Sunday Night Football, exclusive college football games, premium live WWE events and the Olympics, as well as programming on the NBCUniversal networks.
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NBC Sports is entering the Madden video game universe with an alternative broadcast on Peacock
By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer
NBC Sports makes its first foray into alternative NFL coverage Saturday when it puts the Houston Texans-Kansas City Chiefs matchup in the realm of the Madden video game universe.
The Madden altcast will air on Peacock with the main broadcast on NBC, beginning at 1:00 PM EST.
It’s the first time NBC has done an alternate broadcast of an NFL game. CBS has carried at least one game on Nickelodeon since the 2020 season, while ESPN/ABC has the “ManningCast” as well as animated presentations featuring “The Simpsons” and “Toy Story.”
Amazon Prime Video also has “Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats” during “Thursday Night Football.”
“It’s ironic that you want to make the video game as live as possible and now you’re doing the opposite of trying to make the real game look like the video game,” said Josh Helmrich, the NFL’s senior director of media. and Next Generation Statistics.
Peacock’s altcast will combine video game elements such as Madden 25 graphics, route trees, player cards, button icons on eligible receivers and player ratings with live action. GenuisIQ will provide real-time data through the league’s Next Gen stats.
There will also be moments where in-game animations, such as touchdown celebrations, will be used instead of live action.
NBC has used the “Sunday Night Football” games the past two weeks as test broadcasts to make sure all the technology was working and to build cohesion in the Stamford, Conn., studio with the play-by-play announcers.
Paul Burmeister will handle the play-by-play with Madden NFL expert Kurt Benkert and six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Ochocinco providing commentary. Ochocinco will serve as a real-time “score adjuster” for players. Henry Leverette, who won the Ultimate Madden Bowl championship ring in February, will also be part of the broadcast.
Burmeister noted earlier this week that there will be more talk about football schematic chess matches on the altcast compared to what might happen on a traditional football broadcast.
“I’m really excited to follow that line and weave it in to show the parallel that the game has with the real game,” Benkert said. “I think it’s going to resonate really well with younger audiences and people who are used to seeing it in the video game that way.”
While the Madden video game is known for the high-up camera view of the quarterback, it will only be used for replays or to show formations before plays. The traditional side camera will be used more as it better displays route trees and other features more associated with the game.
In an added twist, Ochocinco will be able to adjust a player’s rating based on what happens during the game.
The Texans (9-5) have clinched the AFC South, while the AFC West champion Chiefs (13-1) are looking to remain the top seed in the conference. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce were two of only six players to start the season with 99 overall ratings in the Madden game. Houston’s highest-rated players in Madden are offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (95) and running back Joe Mixon (93).
Eleven players on the Texans and Chiefs rosters have a Madden rating above 90.
Madden’s altcast also takes on personal meaning for NBC Sports NFL executive producer Fred Gaudelli, who was Madden’s producer for the last seven years of his broadcast career. Madden joined ABC’s “Monday Night Football” in 2002 before Madden and Gaudelli moved to NBC for the start of “Sunday Night Football” in 2006.
“The one thing that John was adamant about was that you couldn’t put something in the video game that you couldn’t do in a real game,” Gaudelli said. “I had some memorable moments picking his brain about the advent of the video game and what brought him to it. He’s been uppermost in my mind as we’ve all tried to come up with what this should look like on Saturday.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article