The NFL is right down to its last eight groups and traditionally this weekend’s video games are viewership powerhouses. Final yr, the NFL’s divisional spherical, led by a mega-matchup between the Buffalo Payments and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, averaged a whopping 40.0 million viewers, the very best viewers quantity on report, relationship to 1988. Kansas Metropolis’s win at Buffalo led the way in which with 50.4 million viewers, the most-watched divisional spherical sport on report.
There are many tales at The Athletic projecting what would possibly occur this weekend. On the media entrance, Tom Brady will as soon as once more discover the highlight as Fox’s lead NFL analyst, however this week presents one thing that hits on the crux of Brady’s juggling between his analyst duties and minority possession of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Final week NFL Community insider Ian Rapoport reported that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been recruited by Brady to interview with the Raiders for the membership’s head coach opening.
“Thanks partially to the involvement of Brady, who sources say personally vouched for Johnson and implored him to take the interview by his agent, Johnson spoke with them,” Rapoport wrote.
“Primarily, Brady recruited Johnson to interview.”
Rapoport additionally reported that “Brady was influential within the choice to fireplace (head coach Antonio) Pierce and (common supervisor Tom) Telesco, looking for alignment from him to the GM to the coach.”
(The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed have important further reporting on the Raiders’ teaching and GM searches, each being knowledgeable — and influenced — by Brady.)
Lions OC Ben Johnson says he spoke with Tom Brady on the sector earlier than the Packers sport. First time he’s met him.
Brady can be calling the Commanders-Lions sport this weekend for Fox, whereas serving to the Raiders discover a new head coach and GM.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) January 15, 2025
Fox is airing the Lions-Washington Commanders sport Saturday (8 p.m. ET, additionally on Fox Deportes) with Kevin Burkhardt and Brady within the sales space. There isn’t any different NFL broadcast with this type of working battle, however we already knew that. The battle has already been written about, together with right here a number of occasions, and as we’ve reported, Fox has no points with it, given it’s comfortable to be within the Tom Brady enterprise.
However viewers deserve transparency at a minimal, and what Fox Sports activities ought to do out of respect for the viewers is have Brady and Burkhardt focus on — on-air — that Brady has been a part of the method involving Johnson.
I anticipate the published to deal with it in some type (Fox Sports activities brass is aware of that is all on the market, and its high NFL workforce has a lead producer and director who’re immensely revered throughout the business), however how deep they tackle it, we’ll see.
From my perspective, it mustn’t merely be gloss over it with a 45-second dialogue. If you’ll personal the battle, a minimum of be clear with the viewers.
A substantive acknowledgment and dialogue of what’s happening would assist Brady with viewers who would possibly naturally imagine his recruitment of Johnson will have an effect on how he discusses the Lions.
Past Brady’s evaluation of Johnson and the Lions, what’s going to this yr’s divisional spherical convey so far as viewer curiosity?
We convey again the Watchability Index for one more week, which charges viewer anticipation in addition to predicts anticipated viewership.
Josh Allen and the Payments have been a part of the most-watched NFL divisional spherical playoff sport in 2024. His 2025 playoff matchup with Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson might high that. (Elsa / Getty Photos)
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Payments
6:30 p.m. ET Sunday
CBS, Paramount+
Watchability: 10 out of 10
Why it’s watchable: The NFL has all the time marketed its sport by the quarterbacks — Manning vs. Brady! — and this sport has the 2 main contenders for the league MVP honors — the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and Buffalo’s Josh Allen. You possibly can’t ask for extra so far as leisure in case you are impartial.
The 2 groups ranked second (Payments) and third (Ravens) throughout the common season. The Ravens are significantly deadly on the bottom — they averaged 187.6 yards per sport. Highmark Stadium is loud and chilly, an ideal setting for soccer.
All the pieces about this sport feels large and it’s why the NFL positioned it in its most optimum tv window.
Odds: Ravens (-1)
Viewership prediction: 47 million viewers
Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
3 p.m. ET Sunday
NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo
Watchability rating: 8 out of 10
Why it’s watchable: Exhausting to not embrace the Rams given the continuing wildfires within the Los Angeles space. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are a collective pressure, and when Matthew Stafford is on, he’s enjoyable to observe. L.A. appeared like a juggernaut in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings with a postseason-record 9 sacks.
The Eagles have the top-ranked protection (we’ll see how the lack of Nakobe Dean impacts that), an all-time asset in Saquon Barkley and “Inside Excellence: Practice Your Thoughts for Extraordinary Efficiency and the Finest Potential Life” working for them.
Lincoln Monetary Discipline is a nightmare for opposing groups given Eagles followers are boisterous and belligerent. A late afternoon sport in an ideal sports activities metropolis. How are you going to not watch?
Odds: Eagles (-6)
Viewership prediction: 39 million viewers
Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
8 p.m. ET Saturday
Fox, Fox Deportes
Watchability rating: 7.5 out of 10
Why it’s watchable: The Athletic’s projection mannequin provides the Lions a 24 p.c likelihood to advance to the Tremendous Bowl, one of the best proportion amongst all of the remaining groups. The mannequin has them scoring probably the most factors over the weekend, which is sensible given they led the league in factors scored (33.2 factors) and have been second in complete yards per sport (424.9 yards).
Detroit is enjoyable to observe, it has an uber-aggressive coach and has an America’s Staff really feel to it given how many individuals appear to checklist it as their second favourite workforce.
It’s nice to see the Commanders followers get this playoff run after all of the years of dwelling underneath the Dan Snyder regime. Jayden Daniels is a lock for Rookie of the Yr and performs like a seasoned vet. Plus, how are you going to not love a doink to win a wild-card sport?
Favourite: Lions (-9)
Viewership prediction: 35 million viewers
Houston Texans at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
4:30 p.m. ET Saturday
ESPN/ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes
Watchability rating: 5 out of 10
Why it’s watchable: Begin with Patrick Mahomes, the standard-bearer for profitable. The Chiefs have been the NFL’s viewership bell cow during the last couple of years (for good purpose) given their excellence. (Taylor Swift most likely helped juice the numbers, too.)
The climate is anticipated to be chilly and Arrowhead Stadium is chaotic when stuffed.
The Texans appear to dwell within the early Saturday afternoon slot, which tells you the way the NFL broadcasting division sees them in opposition to different groups. Houston has the bottom anticipated factors in our projection mannequin, and the Chiefs’ starters have rested since Christmas Day.
Favourite: Chiefs -8
Viewership prediction: 34 million
(High photograph: Mitchell Leff / Getty Photos)