Bengals-Chiefs delivers most-watched September game on CBS in 26 years

Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Sunday's matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs was the most-watched NFL on CBS matchup to air in September in 26 years, the network announced Tuesday.

The game, which the Chiefs won 26-25, kicked off at 4:25 p.m. EDT Sunday from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. CBS said nearly 28 million viewers tuned in, the most for that type of broadcast since 1998.

The network's national game was the most-watched telecast on a single network since Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas. NFL on CBS is also off to its best start to a season since 1998, when the league broadcasts returned to the network. An average of more than 19.8 million viewers tuned in through two weeks, up 5% from last year.

CBS said the Bengals-Chiefs matchup was the most-streamed regular-season game of all time on Paramount+. Sunday also marked the most-streamed NFL on CBS regular season day in history.

The NFL announced Sept. 11 that an average of 21 million viewers per game tuned in to matchups in Week 1, setting a viewership record for the opening-week slate.

The New York Jets (1-1) will host the New England Patriots (1-1) in the first game of Week 3 at 8:15 p.m. Thursday in East Rutherford, N.J. That AFC East divisional matchup will air on Prime Video.

CBS is set to broadcast five games on Sunday. Fox will broadcast seven games as part of Sunday's slate. NBC, ESPN and ABC also will air primetime matchups in Week 3.