The Divisional Round matchup between the Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs became ESPN’s most-watched NFL game ever.
How Many Viewers Watched Texans vs. Chiefs?
Add it to the record books!@HoustonTexans & @Chiefs deliver record-setting audience for ESPN👏
More on ESPN's most-watched #NFL game ever: https://t.co/zLboDl2Auq pic.twitter.com/W24JRKhotv
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) January 20, 2025
Saturday’s game between the Texans and Chiefs recorded 32.7 million viewers, the new record for ESPN NFL broadcasts dating back to 1987.
Per an ESPN press release, the viewership is expected to surpass 33 million viewers when Nielsen reports the final audience. The 32.7 million viewers don’t account for every ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+ viewer.
In the game, the Chiefs sacked Houston’s C.J. Stroud eight times in Kansas City’s 23-14 victory.
The Chiefs got a vintage Travis Kelce performance, as the tight end had seven receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown. Patrick Mahomes completed 16 of 25 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown.
With the win, the Chiefs advance to their seventh consecutive AFC Championship.
Kansas City will host the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship on Jan. 26. at 6:30 p.m. ET.
What Were ESPN’s Most-Watched NFL Games?
ESPN’s Most-Watched NFL Games Ever, Dating Back to 1987
| Rank | NFL Season | Date | Game | Viewership | Monday Night Football or Playoff Game |
| 1 | 2024-25 | January 18, 2025 | Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs | 32,701,000 | Divisional Playoff |
| 2 | 2023-24 | January 20, 2024 | Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens | 32,306,000 | Divisional Playoff |
| 3 | 2022-23 | January 16, 2023 | Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 31,201,000 | Wild Card Playoff |
| 4 | 2023-24 | January 15, 2024 | Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 29,135,000 | Wild Card Playoff |
| 5 | 2023-24 | November 20, 2023 | Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs | 28,962,000 | Monday Night Football |
| 6 | 2023-24 | December 25, 2023 | Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers | 27,616,000 | Monday Night Football |
| 7 | 2019-20 | January 4, 2020 | Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans | 26,973,000 | Wild Card Playoff |
| 8 | 2023-24 | December 30, 2023 | Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys | 26,061,000 | Monday Night Football |
All ESPN-produced games. All games aired on, at least, ESPN and ABC, except the Christmas Day game which was only on ABC. Viewership above does not include ESPN Deportes for historical purposes.
The Texans vs. Chiefs viewership surpassed 32.3 million viewers who tuned in for the 2024 Divisional Round game between the Texans and Baltimore Ravens.
The top four most-watched NFL games on ESPN all come from the postseason.
ESPN will not broadcast any more games during the 2024-2025 postseason.
ABC/ESPN will broadcast Super Bowl LXI, their first since 2006.
