NFL

Texans vs. Chiefs Becomes ESPN’s Most-Watched NFL Game Ever

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws a touchdown pass.

The Divisional Round matchup between the Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs became ESPN’s most-watched NFL game ever.

How Many Viewers Watched Texans vs. Chiefs?

Saturday’s game between the Texans and Chiefs recorded 32.7 million viewers, the new record for ESPN NFL broadcasts dating back to 1987.

Per an ESPN press release, the viewership is expected to surpass 33 million viewers when Nielsen reports the final audience. The 32.7 million viewers don’t account for every ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+ viewer.

In the game, the Chiefs sacked Houston’s C.J. Stroud eight times in Kansas City’s 23-14 victory.

The Chiefs got a vintage Travis Kelce performance, as the tight end had seven receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown. Patrick Mahomes completed 16 of 25 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown.

With the win, the Chiefs advance to their seventh consecutive AFC Championship.

Kansas City will host the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship on Jan. 26. at 6:30 p.m. ET.

What Were ESPN’s Most-Watched NFL Games?

ESPN’s Most-Watched NFL Games Ever, Dating Back to 1987

Rank NFL Season Date Game Viewership Monday Night Football or Playoff Game
1 2024-25 January 18, 2025 Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs 32,701,000 Divisional Playoff
2 2023-24 January 20, 2024 Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens 32,306,000 Divisional Playoff
3 2022-23 January 16, 2023 Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31,201,000 Wild Card Playoff
4 2023-24 January 15, 2024 Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29,135,000 Wild Card Playoff
5 2023-24 November 20, 2023 Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs 28,962,000 Monday Night Football
6 2023-24 December 25, 2023 Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers 27,616,000 Monday Night Football
7 2019-20 January 4, 2020 Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans 26,973,000 Wild Card Playoff
8 2023-24 December 30, 2023 Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys 26,061,000 Monday Night Football

All ESPN-produced games. All games aired on, at least, ESPN and ABC, except the Christmas Day game which was only on ABC. Viewership above does not include ESPN Deportes for historical purposes.

The Texans vs. Chiefs viewership surpassed 32.3 million viewers who tuned in for the 2024 Divisional Round game between the Texans and Baltimore Ravens.

The top four most-watched NFL games on ESPN all come from the postseason.

ESPN will not broadcast any more games during the 2024-2025 postseason.

ABC/ESPN will broadcast Super Bowl LXI, their first since 2006.