NFL Sets Week 1 Viewership Record Behind Cowboys-Eagles, Ravens-Bills Games

The NFL set a Week 1 viewership record to kick off the 2025 season.

The league announced Thursday its opening slate of games averaged 22.3 million viewers per game, the highest on record. The Philadelphia Eagles' 24-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys (28.3 million) and Buffalo Bills' 41-40 comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens (24.7 million) drew the biggest audiences.

Cowboys-Eagles and Ravens-Bills each provided plenty of drama in their own ways.

Philly defensive tackle Jalen Carter earned an ejection before the first play from scrimmage for spitting on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.

The Eagles went on to win 24-20 as quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for 152 yards and ran for 62 yards and two touchdowns.

Buffalo, meanwhile, erased a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to Baltimore. Matt Prater nailed a game-winning 32-yard field goal as time expired.

Ravens-Bills SNF THRILLER 🍿

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Bills quarterback Josh Allen finished with 394 yards and two touchdowns through the air, making quite the first impression in the 2025 MVP race.

As high as the NFL's Week 1 viewership was, it might've been even higher if last Friday's encounter between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers had been broadcast on a traditional cable channel.

Instead, the game was a YouTube exclusive. An average of 17.3 million viewers around the world took advantage of the free offering as the Chargers knocked off the three-time reigning AFC champions.