While the AFC Championship game set a viewership record for CBS, the NFC Championship game fell short of expectations for Fox, averaging 44.2 million viewers during Sunday’s matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. This marks the least-watched NFC Championship game since the Packers-49ers clash in 2020, which drew 42.8 million viewers without considering Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing measurement.
If we account for out-of-home viewing by applying a 10% boost to all pre-2021 games—close to the typical amount attributed to such viewing—the Eagles vs. Commanders matchup would still be the lowest rated NFC Championship since 2009, when the Eagles faced the Cardinals, averaging 38.4 million viewers. Per Lewis, “All six NFC games this postseason declined from last year, with four dropping by double digits. In contrast, only three of the six AFC games saw a decline, with just one experiencing a double-digit drop. This downturn in the NFC playoffs follows Fox’s least-watched regular season in four years, notably coinciding with the Cowboys’ last missed playoff appearance.”
The absence of America’s Team likely contributed to the season’s underwhelming NFC viewership, but the statistics also support the notion that the AFC’s star power at the quarterback position has elevated that conference significantly. Despite the soft viewership numbers by NFC Championship standards—and the impact of a lopsided score—the Eagles’ victory still became Fox’s most-watched telecast since last year’s NFC title game. This level of viewership continues to be the envy of every other professional sports league in America.
With Fox preparing to air a Kansas City Chiefs game during Super Bowl LIX, the network has ample opportunity to reverse its season-long trend.
