NEWYou now have the option to listen to news articles!
There appears to be a high level of anticipation among sports fans for the upcoming NFL season following the impressive viewership numbers for the Hall of Fame preseason game last week.
The viewership for the game rivaled that of the NBA playoffs.
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker tackles Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Myles Purchase at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. (Scott Galvin-Imagn Images)
The Hall of Fame Game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions attracted 6.9 million viewers on NBC, marking a 40% increase from the previous year, as reported by Front Office Sports, citing Nielsen ratings.
It was the most-watched Hall of Fame Game since 2021.
During the 2025 NBA postseason, the average viewership across ABC and ESPN was 6.13 million per game, a 10% increase from the previous year, according to the league, highlighting the enduring popularity of the NFL – even in preseason games.
Trey Lance, rather than Chargers’ starting quarterback Justin Herbert, was the standout performer in Canton, Ohio last Thursday night, impressing all those who were watching.
The Los Angeles Chargers play the Detroit Lions at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. (Scott Galvin-Imagn Images)
The third overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Lance, completed 12-of-20 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers’ dominant 34-7 victory over the Lions.
Lance is expected to serve as the backup to Herbert in a season where head coach Jim Harbaugh is looking to build on the success of the team’s 2024 playoff campaign.
On the other hand, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions did not perform as well as the final score indicated. Several key players, including Jared Goff, did not play in the game, with Kyle Allen, vying for the backup quarterback position, starting for the Lions.
Allen threw two interceptions in the game, and other errors, such as a muffed punt return, are areas that the Lions will need to address.
Fans after the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Detroit Lions. (Scott Galvin-Imagn Images)
There are several more preseason games scheduled in the upcoming weeks, with every NFL team set to play their first game against another team this week.
Perhaps even more NFL fans will tune in to watch these primetime games as they gear up for what promises to be another thrilling football season.
Follow the latest in sports news from Fox News Digital here, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter here.
