We got our first taste of live NFL football in months last night with the Hall of Fame Game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. Judging by the ratings, fans were overjoyed to have football back.
According to FOX Sports PR, last night’s game on FOX and FOX Deportes pulled in a solid 7,326,000 viewers. That was the most-watched preseason game since 2017.
For FOX in particular, the game was their highest-rated preseason tilt in nearly a decade. It did over 35-percent better than last year’s Hall of Fame Game.
Given how few of the stars on either side featured in the game, the numbers are a bit surprising. But no amount of downplaying the value of preseason games can apparently satisfy the appetite that NFL fans have for the game.
Last night’s kickoff to the 2021-22 @NFL season scored the most-watched preseason game since 2017. 🦾
cc: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/bCbLCNeLpT
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) August 6, 2021
The 2021 NFL season is primed to be a return to relative normalcy after the sheer chaos of last season. But while the NFL is far better prepared to battle the pandemic during the season, that doesn’t mean there won’t be changes.
The league has made it clear that there will be stiff consequences for teams that violate their COVID-19 restrictions. While that has bothered a few particularly loud players, it will hopefully lead to fewer players missing games or opting out than last year.
Football is officially back. It may never be the same as it was just two short years ago. But it is back.
The post Ratings Released For Hall of Fame Game Between Steelers, Cowboys appeared first on The Spun.