CBS Scores Biggest NFL Audience in Over a Decade With Broncos-Eagles Clash

The Denver Broncos upset the 4-0 Philadelphia Eagles at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia with a late comeback performance.

CBS Scores Biggest NFL Audience in Over a Decade With Broncos-Eagles Clash

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix attempting a throw (Image via The New York Times)

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The Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos’ Sunday clash was spectacular in more ways than one. If not for everyone, at least for the moneymakers at CBS who recorded the biggest NFL viewership in more than a decade.

The Eagles vs. Broncos clash ended with the latter securing an upset win over the defending champions and ending their 10-game winning streak and perfect record. According to Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, the Eagles and Broncos clash drew 19.6 million viewers to the broadcast. The numbers are the best for CBS in twelve years for a single header window.

Though the number includes a few small CBS affiliates who showed the New York Giants vs. the New Orleans Saints game and the Baltimore Ravens’ clash against the Houston Texans, the majority of the viewers belonged to the Broncos-Eagles game. There’s also the fact that audience measurements for TV now count people who include people who are watching the game from outside their individual homes.

There has been a consistent viewership for football, not just for CBS, but across all streaming channels. In the past week, the NBC averaged 21.9 million viewers for Sunday Night Football as the Buffalo Bills upset the New England Patriots. In the first six SNF games of the season, NBC has had more than 20 million clocking in to catch the game.

The afternoon window on Sunday has not been shabby for FOX either. They averaged more than 20 million, main highlights being the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders vs. the Los Angeles Chargers game. Furthermore, the numbers from college football are also very welcoming, including the pregame show, ESPN College GameDay.

The Denver Broncos dismantled the Eagles and caused a disruption in the league

Upsets are not uncommon in the sport of gridiron football, but the recent wins by the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos had significant importance. The Bills and Eagles are no longer perfect, the Eagles more than the Bills, considering they had a tighter schedule before Week 5.

Bo Nix
Bo Nix had a comeback performance on Sunday (Image via Getty Images)

The Broncos had poor odds of winning the duel, and the odds hadn’t changed much in the first half of the game either. The Eagles led 17–3 midway through the third period, with quarterback Jalen Hurts throwing 38 attempts. The offensive approach in the passing game seemed to be the Eagles’ response to the recent criticism of being boring and the outbursts from the wideouts.

However, the change in their offensive strategy seemed to attack the balance as Saquon Barkley, one of their biggest weapons, was handed the ball only six times. Furthermore, the Eagles had some crucial mistakes. It was, in fact, their self-inflicted errors that turned the contest. Penalties on two potential go-ahead drives, an illegal man downfield, and an illegal shift, nullified significant gains by DeVonta Smith and Barkley.

However, it’s not to say that the Broncos didn’t put up a game-winning performance. In the final 15 minutes, Bo Nix orchestrated three consecutive scoring drives, including 12- and 8-play touchdown marches and a 17-play field goal sequence. The comeback began when Denver turned to running back J.K. Dobbins, whose tough runs opened up the Eagles’ defense.

Bo Nix then found tight end Evan Engram for an 18-yard gain and later hit him again for a touchdown to make it a one-point game. Coach Sean Payton went for a bold two-point conversion, and Nix connected with rookie Troy Franklin to give Denver the lead.

The Denver defense also put up a nice show. The unit produced six sacks, forced six consecutive third-down stops, and became the first team this season to hold the Eagles to a red-zone field goal. Currently, second in the AFC West, the Broncos would look forward to maintaining the momentum in two relatively easy schedules against the winless New York Jets and 1-4 New York Giants.

Also Read: ‘Frustrated’ Deion Sanders Dismisses Eli Manning’s Claims That Travis Hunter Only Played Defense at Colorado