Does the NFL's double digit ratings decline for opener show fan fatigue?

The New England Patriots-Seattle Seahawks matchup last week was the NFL’s lowest-rated opening-night game since 2022, averaging 25.1 million viewers on NBC and Peacock.

That figure represents a 12% decline from last season’s Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles opener, which drew 28.3 million viewers on the same network.

Considering recent changes to Nielsen’s measurement system, the broader multiyear decline and the double-digit year-over-year drop are notable.

The NFL and NBC will likely attribute the decline, at least in part, to the opener airing on a Wednesday for the first time.

Moving the game from Thursday, traditionally a stronger night for viewership, to Wednesday was likely a factor — perhaps a significant one.

But that is more a consequence than an excuse.

NFL’S GROSSLY EXPANDED NATIONAL SCHEDULE IS MAKING REDZONE AND SUNDAY TICKET LESS ESSENTIAL To understand why the NFL opened the season on a Wednesday, consider the league’s broader strategy.

The NFL views streaming and international games as its two biggest avenues for growth.

But the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 prohibits televised NFL games on most Friday nights during the high school and college football seasons.

As a result, the league could not schedule the Los Angeles Rams-San Francisco 49ers game in Australia on Friday, as it had the previous two seasons.

Instead, the game was played on Thursday, pushing the Patriots-Seahawks opener on NBC to Wednesday.

The NFL will also play another Wednesday game on Netflix on the night before Thanksgiving.

There will be four Friday games this season, including one on Black Friday and three on Christmas Day.

Nine games will be played internationally.