NFL stars Odell Beckham, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson played in Week 10 – here’s how many people watched the games
Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass during a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field on November 14, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Stacy Revere | Getty Images
The National Football League returned three of its most prominent star players in quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for Week 10, and their games drew strong viewership for one of the league’s media partners.
ViacomCBS aired the national window for Sunday’s Green Bay Packers versus Seattle Seahawks contest, and Disney-owned ESPN aired Beckham’s Los Angeles Rams debut for its Monday Night Football package.
CBS said its game averaged 22.7 million viewers, helping the network average 17.3 million viewers this season.
Rodgers led the Packers to a 17-0 win over the Seahawks, who were shut out for the first time in Wilson’s career. The Seahawks star also returned to the field after missing the last three games due to a hand injury.
Rodgers returned to the field for the first time since Week 8 after testing positive for Covid. The NFL fined him $14,650 for attending a Halloween party without a mask. The Packers quarterback passed for 292 yards and threw an interception against the Seahawks, while Wilson completed 20-of-40 passes, 161 yards and two interceptions.
The last time the Seahawks were shut out came in September 2011 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That season, the Seahawks started quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.
The game marks CBS Sports’ second-strongest NFL contest this year behind the Dallas Cowboys win over the New England Patriots in Week 6. That game averaged 23.2 million viewers, the most-watched national game for the network since 2015.
But the highest-rated NFL game for the 2021 season remains Tom Brady’s return to New England in Week 4, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Patriots. The contest averaged 28.5 million viewers across NBC Sports platforms.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Josh Norman (26) jams Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) during the Los Angeles Rams vs San Francisco 49ers game on Monday November 15, 2021 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.
Jevone Moore | Icon Sportswire | Getty Images
Meanwhile, ESPN’s telecast on Monday had the hype with Beckham returning to the field. He signed a one-year deal with the Rams following his fallout with the Cleveland Browns.
The San Francisco 49ers spoiled Beckham’s debut, though. The 49ers beat the Rams, 31-10. Beckham was targeted three times and caught two passes for 18 yards.
On Wednesday, ESPN said the game averaged 12.3 million viewers across all its platforms.
Through Week 10, ESPN also noted its averaging 13.4 million viewers for the MNF franchise this season. That’s up 15% from the 2020 season, and an increase of 7% when compared to the 2019 NFL season.
The Rams fell to 7-3 on this season and approaching a bye week. The team returns in Week 12 to play Rodgers and the Packers.
Disclosure: NBC and CNBC are both owned by NBCUniversal.
