The NFL continues its reign as the dominant force in American media, with the 2026 Wild Card Weekend averaging 32 million viewers across all platforms. This marks a 13% increase from the previous year and the highest average for the opening playoff round in a decade, significantly outpacing the regular season’s 10% growth.
Streaming History on Prime Video
The most significant milestone of the weekend occurred on Saturday night. The Packers vs. Bears matchup on Amazon Prime Video drew 31.6 million viewers, officially becoming the most-streamed NFL game in history. It shattered the previous record set just weeks earlier by Netflix (27.5M for Lions-Vikings on Christmas Day).
Weekend Ratings Highlights
Despite the absence of traditional ratings “juggernauts” like the Dallas Cowboys or Patrick Mahomes, every broadcast window saw year-over-year gains:
- Top Draw: The 49ers vs. Eagles clash on FOX led the weekend with 41 million viewers, peaking at nearly 48 million. It was the most-watched Wild Card game on any network since 2022.
- Early Sunday Record: Bills vs. Jaguars on CBS averaged 32.7 million viewers, setting an all-time record for the early Sunday Wild Card window.
- Saturday Momentum: The Rams vs. Panthers opener on FOX attracted 28 million viewers, the best Saturday afternoon performance for the round since 2011.
A Robust Media Ecosystem
The surge is attributed to a combination of high-stakes matchups and updated Nielsen “Big Data + Panel” methodology, which now more accurately captures out-of-home viewing. Even with the fragmented media landscape, the NFL managed to attract roughly 10% of the entire U.S. population simultaneously during peak windows.