The New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks NFL season opener averaged 25.1 million viewers across NBC and Peacock on Sept. 14, marking an 11% decline from the 2025 opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. The game, broadcast on a Wednesday night for the first time, delivered the league’s lowest-rated season opener since 2022, according to Nielsen data cited by multiple outlets.
The Patriots-Seahawks matchup—a rematch of Super Bowl LX—peaked at 21.3 million viewers on Netflix for the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams game in Australia, which averaged 18.5 million U.S. viewers. The NFL’s decision to move the traditional Thursday opener to Wednesday, alongside expanded streaming and international games, has drawn scrutiny over its impact on viewership trends.
Part 1: Immediate Action & Core Facts
The Patriots-Seahawks game averaged 25.1 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, a 12% drop from the 2025 Cowboys-Eagles opener, which drew 28.3 million viewers on the same network. The decline represents the lowest-rated NFL season opener since 2022, per Nielsen data reported by Fox News and Newsweek. The game’s Wednesday night broadcast—a departure from the league’s traditional Thursday opener—was cited as a potential factor in the drop, though the NFL has not publicly commented on the scheduling change.
The international game between the 49ers and Rams in Australia averaged 18.5 million U.S. viewers on Netflix, with a peak of 21.3 million. This marked the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia, following previous international games held on Fridays. The league’s expanded schedule, including nine international games and four Friday games, has raised questions about its long-term impact on traditional viewership patterns.
Part 2: Deeper Dive & Context
Why the Wednesday Night Game?
The NFL’s decision to move the season opener to Wednesday stemmed from broader scheduling adjustments, including international games and Friday broadcasts. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 prohibits televised NFL games on most Friday nights during high school and college football seasons, limiting the league’s flexibility. As a result, the 49ers-Rams game in Australia could not be held on a Friday, pushing the Patriots-Seahawks opener to Wednesday. The NFL will also air a Wednesday game on Netflix ahead of Thanksgiving, further testing the viability of midweek broadcasts.
Demographic Performance
Despite the overall decline, the Patriots-Seahawks game performed well among adults 18-49, averaging 10 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and digital platforms. This marked the best audience for an NFL season opener in this demographic since 2021, according to Channel NewsAsia. The Patriots’ and Seahawks’ home markets—Providence, Boston, and Seattle-Tacoma—ranked among the top viewing regions, with Buffalo, a consistent sports viewership outlier, also performing strongly.
Fan and Industry Reactions
Social media commentary highlighted mixed reactions to the game’s timing and matchup. Some fans attributed the lower viewership to the Wednesday broadcast and the lack of star quarterbacks, while others criticized the rematch of last season’s Super Bowl as unexciting. Industry analysts noted that the 11% decline was notable given the league’s relentless promotion and the high-profile nature of the game.
Comparison to Trump’s Speech
The NFL opener coincided with Donald Trump’s speech at a Republican convention, which drew 2.5 million viewers on Fox News. Trump claimed the event’s overall numbers beat the NFL, though he did not provide figures or methodology. Nielsen data confirmed the speech’s viewership was significantly lower than the game’s audience.
Long-Term Implications
The NFL’s expanded schedule, including streaming and international games, is part of its strategy to grow its global audience. However, the double-digit ratings drop for the season opener raises questions about whether these changes will sustain traditional viewership levels. The league will review the Wednesday night experiment again in November, when the Rams vs. Packers game airs on Thanksgiving Eve.
The Patriots-Seahawks game remains the fourth straight season opener to draw over 25 million viewers, a streak dating back to 2023. The NFL has not indicated whether it will revert to Thursday night openers, leaving the future of midweek games uncertain.