Week 1 set the tone with an explosive debut, averaging 22.3 million viewers overall—a 5% uptick from last year and the highest opening week ever recorded. This surge is partly attributed to Nielsen’s revamped “Big Data + Panel” methodology, which integrates set-top box data, smart TV metrics, and full out-of-home viewing coverage across 100% of U.S. markets. The change promises more accurate tallies, but even skeptics can’t deny the raw numbers: NFL games outpaced every other program, including the college football opener between Texas and Ohio State, which drew just 16.62 million.

Leading the pack was NBC’s Thursday Night Kickoff Game pitting the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles, which pulled in 28.3 million viewers despite a one-hour lightning delay in its final quarter. This fell slightly short of the 2024 opener’s 29.5 million but still ranked as one of the season’s highlights. Sunday Night Football followed suit with the Baltimore Ravens-Buffalo Bills thriller, averaging 24.7 million—a prime-time powerhouse that highlighted the Bills’ early dominance. CBS’s national window, dominated by the Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers rivalry, notched 23.89 million, the network’s best Week 1 haul since 1998. Even the Monday Night Football debut, featuring the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Chicago Bears on ABC and ESPN, averaged 22.1 million, blending nostalgia with fresh rivalries.

Week 2 only amplified the momentum, with the full slate averaging numbers that pushed the two-week total to historic levels. FOX’s doubleheader was a revelation, pulling 26.88 million viewers on average and becoming the most-watched NFL doubleheader ever. The crown jewel? A Super Bowl LIX rematch between the Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, which exploded to 33.8 million viewers—the largest Week 2 audience on record, the biggest September regular-season game ever, and FOX’s all-time Sunday high. This panel-plus-big-data figure eclipsed even the teams’ February Super Bowl clash of 32.66 million under old metrics, proving star power like Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts remains a ratings magnet.

According to the best sportsbooks, there has been a surge and record amount of traffic with them as well. They estimate as much as a 25% increase this year over last. This can oftentimes be indicative of what the general public is thinking as well.

NBC’s Sunday Night Falcons-Vikings game held steady at 21.5 million, the best Week 2 primetime draw since 2016, while ESPN’s Monday doubleheader averaged 13.5 million, led by the Buccaneers-Texans at 17.4 million. CBS lagged slightly with 15 million for its singleheader, down 20% from last year’s FOX equivalent, but the overall trend was unmistakable: football is back, and bigger than ever.

What fuels this renaissance? Beyond measurement tweaks, it’s a cocktail of compelling storylines—the Super Bowl hangover, breakout stars like Jordan Love’s Packers (2-0) and Josh Allen’s Bills—and the NFL’s savvy scheduling. Streaming integrations on platforms like Amazon Prime and Netflix (for future games) are broadening access without diluting linear TV dominance. International appeal, too: while U.S. numbers dazzle, the Brazil opener hinted at global growth.

As Week 3 wraps—featuring marquee clashes like Ravens-Cowboys on FOX—expect the records to keep falling. The NFL’s early 2025 ratings aren’t just strong; they’re a testament to a sport that’s evolved into cultural bedrock. With 15 games left before playoffs, broadcasters are salivating over potential windfalls, but fans? They’re just glued to the screen, week after electrifying week.

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