Concerning? NFL sees almost 10% dip in Wild Card Games’ viewership
The 2024 NFL Wild Card viewership declined from 2023, partly due to the absence of the Dallas Cowboys and Taylor Swift, as Travis Kelce's Chiefs claimed the AFC's top seed.
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Dak Prescott and Taylor Swift (Image via FirstSportz)
The Dallas Cowboys are the ‘America’s Team’ for a reason, and their popularity plays a big part in drawing large views to the TV screens. The recent dip in the NFL Wild Card round proved that audiences tune in to watch mostly a select few.
Even though the games featured the two MVP favorites, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, along with the potential offensive player of the year, Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles, the games failed to draw viewership similar to the 2023 season.
As per the Associated Press’s survey, the viewership of the wild card rounds, from Saturday to Monday, witnessed a 9.3 percent drop from last year’s 31.2 million average.
The biggest crowd-puller was missing from the wild card round this season. Jerry Jones’ Cowboys did not qualify as they finished third in the NFC East with a 7-10 record. In the 2023 season, the Cowboys’ wild card round fixture against the Green Bay Packers drew a massive 40 million views (almost double that of the 2024 viewership).
The Cowboys attract a lot of attention because they are the biggest brand in sports, with an estimated turnover of 10.1 billion as per the recent Forbes survey.
The absence of the Dallas Cowboys isn’t the only reason for dip in viewership for the wild card games
Cowboys may be the most recognizable sports venture, but even Jerry’s beloved franchise pales in comparison to the popularity of Taylor Swift. The pop icon always had an interest in football. Her father, Scott Swift, is a long-time Philadelphia Eagles fan, and he passed on to his daughter very early.
Yet, the 14-time Grammy-winning singer became synonymous with football when she started dating Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. Swift’s appearances during Chiefs games opened the NFL’s door to previously untapped territory. Her fans (mostly teenage girls) who never had an interest in football tuned into games to catch a glimpse of their idol being lovey-dovey with her beau.
Swift’s presence also attracted a global audience. Kelce became a household name in places where football had close to zero influence or popularity. As a result, viewership skyrocketed.
[The Chiefs fanbase grew] 30 and 40% from her attendance. She is just as beautiful and wonderful as you’d ever imagine her to be, so smart and intelligent.
Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt in an interview with Billboard
Swifties will potentially get to see the Bad Blood singer during the Chiefs AFC Divisional round fixture against the Houston Texans on Saturday, January 18. In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Kelce hinted that Swift will drop by at Arrowhead Stadium.
You know it. It’s playoff football man.
Travis Kelce told Pat McAfee
📹| Travis on the PatMcAfee Show where they discussed Taylor's aura that will definitely be present during play-off football, Travis hinting at Taylor's new music and how he supports her in the creation process as well as how electric The Eras tour was!
— Taylor Swift Updates 🩶 (@swifferupdates) January 13, 2025
pic.twitter.com/4qctpVQIg5
The dip in viewership is proof that football has reached far corners of the globe. But to sustain that, reach teams such as the Cowboys and Taylor Swift have to be part of it.
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Ishan Misra
(3034 Articles Published)