By: Sam Heller
January 30, 2025
Photo Credit; Getty Images
The NFL’s Wild Card Weekend delivered a mix of dominant performances, nail-biting finishes, and unexpected upsets. However, despite the league’s reputation for producing must-watch postseason drama, viewership numbers across all networks declined compared to previous years, likely due to several lopsided games and shifting broadcast strategies.
Game Recaps: Who Moved On?
Houston Texans 32, Los Angeles Chargers 12
The Houston Texans capitalized on an uncharacteristic off-day from Justin Herbert, who threw three interceptions—two to Derek Stingley Jr. and another to rookie Kamari Lassiter. Former UM head coach Jim Harbaugh’s return to the postseason with the Chargers ended in a second straight Wild Card exit, while C.J. Stroud continued his breakout season with 283 passing yards and a touchdown to Nico Collins.
Baltimore Ravens 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 14
Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry proved too much for Pittsburgh, combining for 299 rushing yards as the Ravens took a commanding 21-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Jackson’s MVP-level performance and Henry’s continued dominance at 31 years old reinforced Baltimore as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Buffalo Bills 31, Denver Broncos 7
The Bills dismantled the Broncos after an early Bo Nix-to-Troy Franklin touchdown, scoring on all but one possession. Josh Allen showcased his dual-threat ability and Buffalo’s defense suffocated Denver, sending them to their fifth straight divisional round appearance.
Philadelphia Eagles 22, Green Bay Packers 10
Despite injury concerns, Jalen Hurts led the Eagles with two touchdowns and critical first downs, while Saquon Barkley’s 119 rushing yards helped Philadelphia control the clock. Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs was a bright spot, but the Packers’ offense couldn’t keep up.
Washington Commanders 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
Rookie Jayden Daniels shined in his playoff debut, passing for over 250 yards and orchestrating a game-winning drive. Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown played pivotal roles, helping Washington secure a statement win on the road.
Los Angeles Rams 27, Minnesota Vikings 9
The Rams' defensive line dominated Minnesota, forcing 17 quarterback pressures and four sacks on Sam Darnold. Despite playing away from home due to wildfires in Los Angeles, the Rams controlled the game and advanced to face Philadelphia in the divisional round.
Why Did Wild Card Viewership Decline?
Despite the NFL’s postseason appeal, TV ratings were down across every major broadcast window, largely due to blowouts, streaming shifts, and less compelling matchups. The late Sunday afternoon game (Eagles-Packers on FOX) averaged 35.9 million viewers, down 11% from last year’s Packers-Cowboys matchup (40.2M). NBC’s Sunday Night game (Commanders-Buccaneers) drew 29 million viewers, a sharp drop from last year’s 36M for Rams-Lions. Monday night’s ESPN/ABC broadcast of Rams-Vikings (25.3M) was the lowest in that slot since the league introduced the Monday Wild Card window in 2022. Even Amazon Prime Video’s first-ever playoff game (Ravens-Steelers, 22.1M) underperformed compared to last year’s streaming-exclusive game on Peacock (23M).
Factors Contributing to the Decline
Lack of Close Games – Several Wild Card matchups were decided early, making them less compelling for neutral viewers.
Streaming Shifts – As the NFL moves toward digital distribution, traditional TV ratings no longer capture the full audience.
Weaker Matchups – With big-market teams like Dallas, Detroit, and Kansas City absent from Wild Card weekend, casual viewers had fewer reasons to tune in.
Looking Ahead
While Wild Card Weekend still delivered moments of individual brilliance and dominant team performances, the lack of competitive games, shifting media consumption habits, and less engaging matchups led to an overall drop in viewership. As the NFL continues to experiment with streaming platforms and alternative broadcasts, it will need to find ways to keep postseason games exciting for both die-hard and casual fans alike.
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