Nielsen’s new mechanism for measuring out-of-home viewing has helped the NFL, considerably.
All numbers are up in 2025. Including the Christmas games.
Via NFL Media, the Lions-Vikings game set a streaming record, with an average audience of 27.5 million. The early game between the Cowboys and Commanders averaged 19.9 million, creating a two-game numer of 23.7 million.
The captive audience of Christmas Day offset the fact that the games weren’t particularly compelling. And the Netflix production left much to be desired, given the ill-advised decision to interview via Zoom four former players during the back-to-back games.
No one wanted that. No one, except the Netflix exec who thought it was a good idea. Everyone who watched the games had to deal with the distraction to the coverage, including canned questions like, “What does football mean to you?”
It means enough to us to tell Netflix to never do in-game Zoom interviews again.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni declined to confirm a report that the team plans to rest its starters against the Commanders on Sunday, but it’s a good bet that any player with an injury issue will have the week off to get as close to 100 percent for the playoffs as possible.
Defensive end Jaelan Phillips and tight end Dallas Goedert are on that list. Phillips missed practice with an ankle injury on Wednesday while Goedert did not participate due to a knee injury.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean (hamstring) and right tackle Lane Johnson (foot) were also out of practice. Dean did not play in Week 17 while Johnson has been out since November 16.
Linebacker Jihaad Campbell (back, shoulder) was a limited participant and tackle Cameron Williams (shoulder) was a full participant.
The Commanders have made a move to formally end the season of one of their offensive linemen.
Washington has placed center Tyler Biadasz on injured reserve, the team announced on Wednesday.
Biadasz is dealing with injuries to his ankle and knee suffered during the Christmas Day loss to the Cowboys. Head coach Dan Quinn had previously said it would be hard for him to play in the season finale against the Eagles.
Biadasz will finish his second season with Washington having started 16 games.
As a corresponding move, the club has signed offensive lineman Julian Good-Jones to the 53-man roster off of its practice squad.
Additionally, guard Sala Aumavae-Laulu and defensive end D.J. Johnson have been signed to the practice squad.
The Eagles offense had a rough second half against the Bills in last Sunday’s win, but it doesn’t look like they’ll use Week 18’s game against the Commanders as a chance to try to get the unit back on track ahead of the playoffs.
Head coach Nick Sirianni said on Monday that the team had not made any decisions about resting starters ahead of a home game in the wild card and they have reportedly made up their mind. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the team is expected to rest quarterback Jalen Hurts and most other starters against Washington.
The Eagles will either be the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the NFC. A win and a Bears loss against the Lions would make them the No. 2 seed.
Getting that spot would give them the possibility of hosting two playoff games next month, but it seems Sirianni and company have decided that upside is not worth the risk that comes with having their starters on the field this Sunday.
Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota did not participate in the team’s walkthrough on Monday, coach Dan Quinn said.
Quinn said it is “still a stretch” for Mariota to play, but the Commanders will have a better idea of his availability for Week 18 on Wednesday.
“There’s still hope,” Quinn said.
Mariota injured his hand and a quad on the same play in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles and missed the Week 17 game against the Cowboys.
Josh Johnson started for Mariota, who was starting for injured starter Jayden Daniels, and Johnson would start Week 18 against the Eagles if Mariota can’t play. The Commanders also have Jeff Driskel on their 53-man roster and Sam Hartman on their practice squad.
Center Tyler Biadasz (ankle/knee) does not require surgery on his injuries, according to Quinn, but Biadasz is unlikely to play Sunday.
