You Can’t Spin This: Ratings For The Annual NFL Kickoff Game Were Way Down And We Don't Want A Wednesday Night Opener

Kevin Sabitus. Getty Images.

There is no way to spin this for the NFL. 

But Mut, they still did 25 million viewers…..

But Mut, Nielsen changed how it counts viewers this season…

Shove it, Goodell Boys. 

Pats / Seahawks was a dud on the field, and it was a dud in the ratings - at least as far as NFL standards go. 

Down 11% from last year - and the lowest-rated NFL Opener since 2022. The NFL is used to ratings going up, up, up, so this one will sting. 

I'm sure NBC was thrilled that the league moved the Kickoff Game to Wednesday so Netflix could have the Thursday game in Australia, and the ole Peacock could see ratings down 11% from 2025. 

Two free pieces of advice from this bald blogger to Goodell and the NFL for 2027 and beyond. 

1. No more Wednesday Openers

No one loves football more than Big Cat. 

"I feel weird with it starting on a Wednesday night. It's wrong. Yeah, I'm gonna fuckin' watch it, but I also don't think it's right…"

Exactly. I think he speaks for a lot of NFL Fans. We don't need a game on Wednesday. The Seahawks didn't deserve a Wednesday Opener. No one was begging for this. 

And what about the casuals who didn't even know there was a game on Wednesday? My mom watches most Pats games and had no clue. She thought I was kidding when I told her I was doing a stream with Hogdale for the Pats Opener last Wednesday.

Save the NFL Openers for Thursday.  

2. You don't have to start the season with a Super Bowl rematch

Steph Chambers. Getty Images.

I'm all for the Super Bowl Champs hosting the first game and hoisting a banner. But coming off one of the most boring Super Bowls of my lifetime, they should have adjusted the matchup. 

The Seahawks are kinda boring as it is. They lost the Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker in free agency. 

Seattle hosts the Bears and the Chiefs this season. Both of those games would have been a better matchup, right? Mahomes off the injury list, with Walker now playing for Kansas City? Caleb Williams and the Bears' offense in a conference game - maybe even an NFC Title Game preview? 

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I mean, love the Pats, but based on that Super Bowl, I would have totally understood the NFL going for something different. Even Seahawks /Rams would have had more juice to start the season. 

Sunday Night Football crushed - Giants/Cowboys was the most-watched Week 1 Sunday night game since 2015. So people are still locked in - but they were not as locked in on a Wednesday night. Shocker. 

We can bitch and moan and point at the numbers, but these games are not going away - how about this note from PMT regular Mike Florio??? 

Regardless, Week 1 Wednesday is likely here to stay. Especially in the years the NFL can’t televise a game on the first Friday night of the season.

It’ll be that way in 2027 and 2028, with a Friday night Week 1 game back on the table for 2029.

By then, it’ll likely be Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for Week 1.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I love football, but do we really need ALL those games the first week of the season? Does anyone want that?

No way the NFL expected their first game of the season to be down 11%. The NFL and their lackeys will spin it as just a footnote, but those are bad numbers for your annual Kickoff Game.