TheHouston Texansstill 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 plus national championship games in football − ... along with (wink) "Stump the Schwab," Australian Rules Football, "Playmakers" and so much more.
So given that backdrop, both in length and breadth of sports coverage, it's rather astounding to learn that Sunday's NFL divisional round playoff game between theTexansandNew England Patriotsbecame the most-watched event on ESPN. Ever.
The network announced its new record Thursday, revealing that 38 million viewers tuned in for New England's decisive28-16 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.
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." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
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Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst 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 theBaltimore Ravens-Texans game in the 2023 divisional round (calendar year 2024). Definitely a Texans theme here.
ESPN began carrying NFL games in 1987 and blanket coverage of the league is the primary underpinning of the media giant's content strategy.
Disney's previous viewership record for a sporting event was the 2006 Rose Bowl, an instant classic in which Vince Young'sTexas Longhornsderailed the Pete Carroll USC dynasty 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