NFL ratings continue to soar into October

Field Level Media|published: Thu 9th October, 15:37 2025

NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans

Sep 15, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; A broadcast camera is wrapped in a Monday Night Football logo before the game between the Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The NFL is continuing to enjoy soaring television ratings, with games through Week 5 averaging a viewership of 18.58 million.

That is up 8 percent from the comparable average last year and 9 percent from 2023. It also represents the second highest mark at this point in the season in league history behind only 2010, according to Front Office Sports.

The highest-rated game this season remains the average of 33.8 million viewers for Philadelphia's victory over Kansas City in Week 2, but the NFL's ratings have maintained momentum despite competition from college football and the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The ratings figures have received a boost from Nielsen's new "Big Data + Panels" measurement product, which includes figures from set-top boxes and smart televisions. And the viewership spikes have been enjoyed across broadcasters.

CBS's early-afternoon window led by the Broncos-Eagles game in Week 5 averaged 19.6 million viewers, the network's highest since regaining NFL rights in 1998. Meanwhile, Fox averaged 20.3 million for the Commanders at Chargers last Sunday, with "America's Game of the Week" in the afternoon slot now up 3 percent.

Week 5 concluded with Jacksonville's dramatic comeback victory at home against Kansas City on Monday night. The game averaged 22.3 million viewers, the most since ESPN began airing "Monday Night Football" games in 2006.

--Field Level Media