Season finale will have one of the smallest TV audiences for a Chiefs game in years

Since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018, the Chiefs have drawn huge television ratings.

In 2023, five of the top 10 most watched prime-time programs were Chiefs games. Even when the Chiefs play on a Sunday afternoon, the networks usually air their games to much of the country.

But not so this Sunday when the Chiefs travel to LA to face the Chargers. In fact, the TV broadcast map shows this will be one of the smallest areas of the country to see a Chiefs game in the Mahomes Era.

That decision was made before coach Andy Reid announced Wednesday that Mahomes would sit out the Chiefs’ season finale. The Chiefs are locked into the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, and their opponent Sunday already has been eliminated for postseason contention.

Additionally, there are seven late-afternoon games on Sunday. So CBS is paring back which markets will see the Chiefs-Chargers game. Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta will be on the call and Aditi Kinkhabwala is set to be the sideline reporter.

Here is the broadcast map courtesy of 506Sports.com.

Fans in Kansas City also will see the Vikings-Lions game at noon Sunday on Fox 4, followed by the Commanders-Cowboys contest, which will air opposite the Chiefs game.

The Jaguars-Titans game, which kicks off at noon and will have implications on the AFC playoff seeding, will be shown on KCTV.

Here is the full list of broadcaster assignments for Week 17 (all games on Sunday except where noted).

Steelers at Ravens, 3:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC and ESPN: Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter)

Texans at Colts, 7:15 p.m. Saturday on ABC and ESPN: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters

Buccaneers at Panthers, noon on Fox: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Shannon Spake

Browns at Bengals, noon on CBS: Tom McCarthy, James Lofton, Jay Feely and Tiffany Blackmon

Vikings at Lions, noon on Fox: Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston and Pam Oliver

Jets at Patriots, noon on Fox: Chris Myers, Robert Smith and Jen Hale

Falcons at Saints, noon on CBS: Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan and A.J. Ross

Jaguars at Titans, noon on CBS: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins

Chiefs at Chargers, 3:25 p.m. on CBS: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala

Seahawks at Cardinals, 3:25 p.m. on Fox: Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez and Laura Okmin

Bears at Packers, 3:25 p.m. on CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson

Broncos at Raiders, 3:25 p.m. on Fox: Jason Benetti, Matt Millen and Megan Olivi

Eagles at Giants, 3:25 p.m. on CBS: Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn

Rams at 49ers, 3:25 p.m. on Fox: Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Kristina Pink

Cowboys at Commanders, 3:25 p.m. on Fox: Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi

Bills at Dolphins, 7:20 p.m. on NBC: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark