Thursday, September 17, 2026

Amazon Bounces Back With Record Viewership

  • The Dallas Cowboys’ 41-35 win over the Seattle Seahawks averaged 15.26 million viewers — Prime Video’s most-watched game ever.
  • Amazon also claims that Thursday’s contest was the most-streamed NFL game in history.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws a pass during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Amazon’s presentation of the NFL on Prime Video is back on track after disappointing results from its first Black Friday experiment.

The Dallas Cowboys’ thrilling 41-35 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football averaged 15.26 million viewers — surpassing Week 2’s Vikings-Eagles matchup (15.05M) as Prime Video’s most-watched game ever.

Amazon also claims that Thursday’s contest was the most-streamed NFL game in history — with the caveat that it measures with an average minute audience and includes only Prime Video, Twitch, and NFL+. However, it’s unlikely that CBS, Fox, or ESPN streaming services would approach this number. 

As more fans adjust to the streaming reality in the second season of Amazon’s exclusive ownership of TNF, the tech giant should be encouraged with its progress in the NFL — even accounting for a speed bump or two. 

Seahawks-Cowboys represented a 53% increase in viewership from Week 13’s Bills-Patriots matchup in 2022. To this point, all 11 games on Prime Video have experienced double-digit year-over-year viewership increases.

It also represents a big rebound for Amazon after its inaugural Black Friday game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets averaged 9.61 million viewers to be the second-least-viewed game on Prime Video this season; its 4.0 rating was the lowest for any game on Prime this year.

The Cowboys continue to jockey with its NFC East rivals in Philadelphia for the title of the NFL’s most popular team: Dallas’ blowout win on Thanksgiving was the most-watched game of the season and the second-most-watched regular season game of all time.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Fantasy Football Drafts Are Turning Into Full-Blown Vacations

Leagues are foregoing solo drafts and replacing them with in-person getaways.

ESPN Draws 23.2M Viewers for Week 1 of ‘Monday Night Football’

It’s the third-most-watched game of all 362 ESPN MNF broadcasts.

NFL Blocks Teams From Signing ex-LSU Players

Dae’Quan Wright’s agent says the tight end is exploring his legal options.
Oct 2, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams mascot Rampage (center) visits Ryan Fitzpatrick (left) and Andrew Whitworth on the Prime Thursday Night Football set at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Why Fitzpatrick and Whitworth Won’t Trade Studio for the Booth

The Prime Video analysts also weighed in on the Rams’ Week 1 loss.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

9/17/26 – CFB Ratings Surge, Joe Buck’s $108M Deal, Knicks Ticket Shock

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
September 1, 2026

High School Football Sidelines Are Clogged With Content Creators

Administrators call these amateur newcomers the “pajama paparazzi.”
Jun 24, 2024; Eugene, OR, USA; NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico during the US Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Tirico Addresses Michael Jordan’s NBC Exit, Hopeful He’ll Return

Jordan served as a “special contributor” for NBC last season.
September 15, 2026

ABC Draws Record 3.2M Viewers for US Open Men’s Final

Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton to claim his second Grand Slam title.
Dec 25, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; General view of the Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football logo at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
September 16, 2026

Amazon’s Bills-Lions Game Shows Established NFL Presence

The streamer will begin the season with the new Highmark Stadium opening.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
September 14, 2026

Stephen A. Smith: McAfee Has a ‘Different Set of Rules’ at ESPN

Smith signed a nine-figure contract with ESPN last year.
Sep 11, 2026; Melbourne, AUS; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (5) makes a touchdown catch over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) in the second half at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
September 14, 2026

Netflix’s Australia Game Ties YouTube’s NFL Numbers From Brazil

The subscription streaming service posted an increase in global viewership.
Oct 1, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Former Houston Texans JJ Watt speaks to the fans during his Ring Of Honor Ceremony at halftime during the game between the Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Opinion
September 14, 2026

J.J. Watt Wasn’t Better Than Tony Romo—but He Was Good Enough

Watt will remain with CBS’s top team for at least two more weeks.
Aug 8, 2026; Canton, OH, USA; Chris Berman moderates the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive
September 14, 2026

How ESPN Will Use Chris Berman in Its Super Bowl Coverage

Berman has covered 44 straight Super Bowls and watched all 60.