ESPN’s exclusive presentation of Monday Night Football continues to deliver strong postseason results, with the network drawing a massive audience for its AFC Wild Card matchup between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers on January 12.
The game averaged 29.1 million viewers across ESPN platforms, marking a 15% increase compared to ESPN’s Wild Card telecast one year earlier between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.
The Texans’ road victory over the Steelers ranks as the network’s second most-watched Wild Card game since 2015. The audience total matched the 29.1 million viewers who watched Eagles-Buccaneers in January 2024. This reinforces ESPN’s growing ability to attract large national audiences during the NFL playoffs.
Viewership climbed steadily throughout the evening before peaking just ahead of halftime. Between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. ET, the broadcast reached a high of 33 million viewers, reflecting heightened interest as the game’s early narrative took shape.
That surge helped solidify the telecast as one of the most-watched NFL games of the 2025 postseason to date.
The Wild Card matchup aired across ESPN platforms, with additional digital streaming contributing to the overall audience total. ESPN has leaned heavily into its multi-platform distribution strategy in recent years, a move that continues to pay dividends during marquee events such as the NFL playoffs.
Monday Night Football has long been one of ESPN’s cornerstone properties, and its postseason extension has become a valuable piece of the network’s broader NFL portfolio. The network’s NFL coverage for the 2025-26 season will continue with one remaining postseason telecast.
The network is scheduled to carry an AFC Divisional Round matchup on Sunday, January 18, when the Houston Texans travel to face the New England Patriots. That game will kick off at 3 p.m. ET and air on ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App, with additional mobile viewing available through NFL+.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest informed right in your inbox.
