Playoff game between Patriots, Texans ranks as mostwatched event in ESPN history Nate Davis, USA TODAY January 23, 2026 at 12:44 AM 1 The Houston Texans still haven't reached their first conference championship game, but they did help ESPN to an unprecedented viewership metric. The network has been around for more than 46 years, covering sports 24/7 since Sept. 7, 1979. That's included broadcasting all of North America's major professional leagues, significant college football and basketball telecasts − including March Madness for men and women for a period − ...
- - Playoff game between Patriots, Texans ranks as most-watched event in ESPN history
Nate Davis, USA TODAY January 23, 2026 at 12:44 AM
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The Houston Texans still haven't reached their first conference championship game, but they did help ESPN to an unprecedented viewership metric.
The network has been around for more than 46 years, covering sports 24/7 since Sept. 7, 1979. That's included broadcasting all of North America's major professional leagues, significant college football and basketball telecasts − including March Madness for men and women for a period − ... "Stump the Schwab," Australian Rules Football, "Playmakers" and so much more (wink).
So given that backdrop, both in length and breadth of sports coverage, it's pretty wild to learn that Sunday's NFL divisional round playoff game between the Texans and New England Patriots became the most-watched event on ESPN − ever.
The network announced its new record Thursday, Jan. 22, revealing that 38 million viewers tuned in for New England's decisive 28-16 defeat of the Texans, a team − one that's 23 years younger than ESPN − that's hardly ever resonated as a national brand. The game also ranked as Disney's most-watched sporting event, Super Bowl broadcasts on ABC notwithstanding.
makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
">Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
Patriots-Texans represented a 12% rise from last year's divisional round game between Houston and the Kansas City Chiefs and was up 17% from the Baltimore Ravens-Texans game in the 2023 divisional round (calendar year 2024).
ESPN began carrying NFL games in 1987.
Disney's previous record for a sporting event was the 2006 Rose Bowl, an instant classic in which Vince Young's Texas Longhorns upset USC for the national championship. Patriots-Texans was also Disney's most-watched telecast of any kind since 2014.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ESPN: Patriots, Texans stage most-watched event in network's history
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Published: January 22, 2026 at 11:27PM on Source: RED MAG
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