Ravens-Cowboys Game Sets Record for Most-Watched NFL International Game
Baltimore's thrilling 34-31 victory over Dallas in Rio de Janeiro captivated an average of 24.9 million viewers on CBS, setting a new benchmark for NFL broadcasts outside the United States.
The National Football League's international reach expanded significantly with Baltimore's 34-31 victory over Dallas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which averaged 24.9 million viewers on CBS on Sunday. This figure makes it the most-watched NFL international game in history.
The audience peaked at over 30 million viewers during the late stages of the game, specifically when Baltimore's Tyler Loop successfully kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired. The Week 3 matchup also marked the most-watched Week 3 game on CBS since 2014.
This record-breaking viewership surpassed previous international NFL broadcasts. For comparison, the Week 1 game in Australia between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams averaged 18.5 million U.S. viewers on Netflix earlier this year. Last year, a Week 1 game in Brazil between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs also drew an average of 18.5 million viewers, broadcast on YouTube.
CBS's doubleheader programming on Sunday, which included the Ravens-Cowboys game, averaged 21.45 million viewers, representing its most-watched September doubleheader since 2014. In contrast, the other six international NFL games held last year aired on the NFL Network and averaged 6.2 million viewers.
The league has scheduled seven more international games for the current season. These include an upcoming matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Commanders in London. The NFL Network will broadcast five of these games. The New England Patriots and Detroit Lions will play in Munich, Germany, on November 15, airing on Fox, while the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers will face off in Mexico City on November 22, broadcast on NBC.