• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, February 11, 2025

NFL TV Ratings Down in Lopsided First Round; Cowboys Absence Felt

The NFL is still by far the biggest thing in U.S. television, but the initial set of playoff games this season showed another slide in viewership. 

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The NFL took another viewership hit over the wild-card playoff weekend, showing more ratings erosion compared to last year—even as the league continues to outstrip everything else in U.S. television.

The six games played over the three-day weekend collectively showed attrition from a year ago, following the 2% audience decline during the regular season. Among the individual viewership results from the initial playoff round:

  • Chargers-Texans (Jan. 11): As the Texans played yet again in the early Saturday wild-card slot, the game averaged 31.1 million on CBS and Nickelodeon, up 7% from a comparable Cleveland-Houston game last year. 
  • Steelers-Ravens (Jan. 11): Amazon’s first livestream of an NFL playoff game made company history, averaging 22.1 million. The figure is by far the best individual NFL result in the company’s three years of streaming the league but is down 3% from the 23 million average for Peacock’s exclusive stream of a comparable Dolphins-Chiefs game. The Amazon figure, likely impaired by Baltimore’s racing to a 21–0 halftime lead, also failed to match the average of more than 24 million for Netflix’s streaming doubleheader on Christmas Day. 
  • Broncos-Bills (Jan. 12): This CBS game also averaged 31.1 million, essentially flat from a comparable Steelers-Bills game last year that was shifted to a Monday afternoon due to heavy snow in the Buffalo area. 
  • Packers-Eagles (Jan. 12): This game averaged 35.6 million viewers on Fox, the largest figure of any of the six games last weekend. The total, however, trailed a comparable late Sunday afternoon game last year between the Packers and Cowboys by 11%, again showing the impact of a down Dallas season on overall NFL viewership. 
  • Commanders-Buccaneers (Jan. 12): The primetime matchup on NBC averaged a total audience delivery of 29 million, down 19% from a comparable Rams-Lions game last year, and the worst-performing Sunday night wild-card game in four years. 
  • Vikings-Rams (Jan. 13): This game, relocated from Los Angeles due to the ongoing and devastating wildfires there, averaged 25.4 million, down 13% from the comparable Eagles-Buccaneers game in 2024. The Monday night contest also saw viewer attrition in the second half as the Rams built a three-touchdown lead in the first half en route to a 27–9 victory, with the audience peaking before halftime at more than 30 million viewers.

High-Profile Matchups

The divisional playoff round, meanwhile, offers more hope for a rebound. Saturday’s games will involve the two-time defending champion Chiefs, now the league’s top television draw, facing the Texans; and the Lions, now also a viewership power, are playing at home against the upstart Commanders

Sunday’s games will include the Rams facing the Eagles in a South Philadelphia sports complex now being reimagined, and the showcase late-afternoon contest will include the Ravens facing the Bills in a matchup featuring the two top candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award: Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Isaiah Wright, a running back featured on the Netflix series "Last Chance U, is playing football for the Alcoa Alloys, a semipro team with the Interactive American Football League on Saturday, April 6, 2019.

‘Last Chance U’ Participants File $30M Lawsuit Against Netflix, Others

Producers of “Last Chance U” allegedly took “unfair advantage” of players.
Nov 26, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Alex Rodriguez watches as the Minnesota Timberwolves lose to the Houston Rockets in overtime at Target Center.

Glen Taylor Has ‘Limited’ Legal Options to Keep Timberwolves

One litigator says it’s usually “very hard to vacate an arbitration award.”
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt (58) and linebacker Josh Sweat (19) tackle Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the first half of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.

Super Bowl Set Viewership Record at 127.7M, Hints at Fox Streaming Future

The historic figure improves by 3% from last year’s game.
Jan 19, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; General view of San Francisco 49ers logo in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium.

Super Bowl Headed West As NFL Ponders International Future

Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., will host next year’s Super Bowl.

Featured Today

Jan 9, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena

‘Important’ 4 Nations Face-Off Can Be NHL’s All-Star Antidote

“The stars have been lobbying the league for an event like this.”
Brady and Mahomes
February 8, 2025

Chiefs Fatigue Is Real. It’s Nowhere Near Patriots Hate Yet

People who have covered both teams say the difference is stark.
Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley (26) after the Eagles defeat the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium.
February 7, 2025

How the Eagles Reinvented Championship Roster Construction

Philadelphia is one of the most innovative franchises in the NFL.
February 3, 2025

‘Ultimate Throwback’: The Unimpeachable Cool of Hartford Whalers Gear

Nostalgia and street cred have driven a consistent frenzy for merch.
Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar’s Attack on Drake Peaks With Most-Watched Super Bowl Halftime Ever

A record 133.5 million viewers tuned in for Lamar’s performance.
ESPN, Top Rank Boxing
February 11, 2025

ESPN Parting Ways With Top Rank Boxing After Eight Years

The boxing business has been in a state of flux for several years.
February 11, 2025

How Did Kanye West’s Super Bowl Ad for Swastika Merch Make it..

The site was taken down Tuesday morning.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Rory & Mal, The Volume
February 11, 2025

Colin Cowherd’s Volume Adds Rory & Mal Podcast in Entertainment Push

It is the second new podcast The Volume has added this year.
February 10, 2025

Super Bowl LIX Defies Trends, Sets U.S. TV Viewership Record

The Eagles’ emphatic title win makes U.S. television history.
Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.
February 10, 2025

NFL’s Aggressive Flex Scheduling Expected to Reshape 2025 Lineup

Next season’s schedule could include more flexible windows.
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Fox Sports NFL Sunday analyst Michael Strahan (left) and Fox Sports NFL Sunday analyst Jimmie Johnson (right) react before Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.
February 10, 2025

Jimmy Johnson Stops Short of Retirement After Fox Sports Tribute

Fox ran a tribute to Jimmy Johnson’s career during the Super Bowl pregame.