NFL Viewership Rebounded During Second Week
Major networks reported strong ratings as football audiences increased across broadcast and streaming windows.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Football
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NFL viewership figures saw a significant recovery during the second week of the 2026 season. This growth follows a 13% audience drop experienced by the league during the opening week.
Why it matters
The rebound suggests a stabilization of viewership patterns for the league despite measurement adjustments by Nielsen. Sustained interest across major networks points to the continued strength of football as a television product.
Fox Sports averaged 27.2 million viewers for the Cowboys-Commanders game, while CBS Sports hit 19.34 million viewers for its singleheader, a 29% increase over last year. Amazon reported a 5% bump in Thursday Night Football viewership.
The players
Fox Sports
This media division is a primary broadcaster of NFL games and manages extensive sports coverage in the United States.
CBS Sports
This major network provides national coverage for NFL Sunday games and maintains long-standing broadcast rights.
NBC Sports
This network produces high-profile NFL broadcasts including the Sunday Night Football season opener.
Amazon
This technology and commerce giant holds exclusive streaming rights for Thursday Night Football broadcasts.
Nielsen
This global data and market measurement firm provides the standard metrics used to track television viewership.
The details
Networks saw high engagement across multiple broadcasts, including 25.7 million viewers for the Cowboys-Giants opener and 24.3 million for the Chiefs-Colts overtime thriller. These figures were bolstered by Nielsen implementing a series of new measurement changes.
Timeline
Sept. 13, 2026: The Cowboys-Giants Sunday Night Football season opener aired.
Sept. 20, 2026: Week 2 NFL Sunday games saw significant viewership growth.
1989: The last September CBS NFL singleheader with higher viewership than current figures.
2015: The last Sunday Night Football Week 2 game with higher viewership than this season.
Season Trajectory
The strong Week 2 performance acts as a recovery from the 13% Week 1 NFL audience drop. This bounce-back helps stabilize the season narrative as the league heads into Week 3 and continues to navigate new measurement standards.
Fantasy participants and bettors should note the high-scoring outcomes, such as the Cowboys 37-20 win and the Chiefs 33-30 overtime victory, which reflect active offensive performances. With the Cowboys playing the Ravens in Week 3, viewers can anticipate continued high-stakes matchups.
The takeaway
The league demonstrated resiliency by capturing large audiences across Sunday and Thursday broadcast windows. These results underscore the enduring popularity of professional football despite recent changes in how viewership is tracked.
What happens next
ESPN is scheduled to release viewership figures for the Giants-Rams game on Wednesday. Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys are slated to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3.
Further reading
For more on the current season, visit the Football section.
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