Any questions of the NFL’s enduring appeal to an American television audience have been blown out of the water once again in 2021. Would fans remain locked to their screens as COVID restrictions are lifted and stadium seats are filled once more? You had better believe they will.
Viewing figures continue to head in one direction, with an upward curve showing no sign of levelling out. An appetite for football remains insatiable, with millions unable to get enough of a good thing.
On-field action littered with intriguing subplots is helping to capture and retain interest and imagination, with NFL odds from Betfair lining up a long and winding road to Super Bowl LVI in Inglewood.
Picking a winner at this stage is an almost impossible task, and that is helping to keep supporters around the world locked into an enthralling battle to claim the ultimate prize.
The Top 5 Most Watched NFL Games
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-New England Patriots (26.7m)
It comes as no surprise to find Tom Brady’s return to his spiritual home sitting at the top of the 2021-22 charts. How could you not want to see how that contest played out?
An evergreen 44-year-old did what he always does at Gillette Stadium – took the W. Bill Belichick knew what was coming, but trying to stop the inevitable is a quite frankly thankless task. Brady may now be a Buc, but Boston is his house.
2. Dallas Cowboys-Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24.8m)
Brady completes a notable one-two, with a little help from the ever-popular Cowboys. That is quite the combination for sporting theatre – especially in a season opener when collective focus is narrowed on one corner of the world.
In this instance that was the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, with the Bucs putting down an early marker in the defence of their crown as they put up 31 points in Week One and served notice to the rest of the league that they are going nowhere without a fight.
3. Dallas Cowboys-Los Angeles Chargers (24.3m)
Prime time Sunday with the Cowboys on the road – you do not need to be a genius to work out that said equation equals money.
Dak Prescott put up 237 yards, but Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard got the job done on the ground as Jerry Jones’ boys started fast and finished strongly to edge a keenly-fought contest in LA.
4. Dallas Cowboys-New England Patriots (23.2m)
A third entry in the top five for the Cowboys, proving that they remain very much ‘America’s Team’.
Another eye-catching outing from them as well which extended a winning run to five games – since the opening day defeat to Brady’s Bucs – and cemented a standing atop of the NFC East that already looks to be unshakable and leaves them at 10/1 to go all the way.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Los Angeles Rams (22.6m)
Anything the Cowboys can do, Brady can match as he completes the top five with a third appearance for the Bucs. Brady in Hollywood-land – the script writes itself. The Rams, though, proved that they can be a force to be reckoned with in 34-24 success that sent the defending champions – who are 5/1 to repeat in 2021-22 – heading back east with their tail wedged between their legs.
