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The Most & Least Watchable NFL Games In 2022: Week 1 & Beyond

Bill Speros for Bookies.com

Bill Speros  | 

The Most & Least Watchable NFL Games In 2022: Week 1 & Beyond

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The frozen tundra.

A crowd triggers the Richter scale. 

Future Hall of Fame QBs go mano-a-mano. 

Baker Mayfield playing his old team. 

The latest Super Bowl 57 preview.

Those are key elements that make one NFL game more watchable than another. 

What are the most – and least – watchable games on the NFL schedule this season? Bookies.com analyzed the 272-game regular season schedule and ranked every NFL game based on its watchability, using a numerical scale that includes projected win totals, Super Bowl odds, and other factors. 

Let's begin with Week 1. 


RELATED: NFL Week 1 Picks, Predictions And Best Bets


Week 1 NFL Bookies Watchability Index

Here are all 16 games in Week 1 of the 2022-23 NFL season as ranked by the Bookies.com Watchability Index (BWI) for the upcoming NFL season. Week 1 begins on Thursday, Sept. 8, with the Bills at Rams. 

Games are listed with their time, TV, BWI score and the current spread as listed at DraftKings. Ties are broken by point spreads, with the smaller spread ranking higher on our list. 

Rank Game BWI Day Time (ET) TV Line
1. BUF at LAR 69.5 Thur. 8:20 p.m. NBC BUF -2.5
2. TB at DAL 64.5 Sun. 8:20 p.m. NBC TB -1
3. GB at MIN 57 Sun. 4:25 p.m. FOX GB -2.5
4. KC at ARI 53.5 Sun. 4:25 p.m. CBS KC -3.5
5. LVR at LAC 50 Sun. 4:25 p.m. CBS LAC -3.5
6. NE at MIA 47.5 Sun. 1 p.m. CBS MIA -2.5
7. DEN at SEA 47.5 Mon. 8:15 p.m. ESPN DEN -6
8. PIT at CIN 43.5 Sun. 1 p.m. CBS PIT -6.5
9. CLE at CAR 42 Sun. 1 p.m. CBS CAR -1
10. SF at CHI 31.5 Sun. 1 p.m. FOX SF -7
11. IND at HOU 30 Sun. 1 p.m. CBS IND -8.5
12. NYG at TEN 29.5 Sun. 4:25 p.m. FOX TEN -6
13. BAL at NYJ 29.5 Sun. 1 p.m. CBS BAL -7
14. PHI at DET 26.5 Sun. 1 p.m. FOX PHI -4
15. NO at ATL 25.5 Sun. 1 p.m. FOX NO -5.5
16. JAX at WAS 23 Sun. 1 p.m. FOX WAS -2.5

How We Did It

Multiple factors were used in creating an algorithm for the Bookies.com Watchability Index. Teams were given points for the following:

  • Each Projected Win On Their Season Over/Under at DraftKings
  • Their Standing (1-32) In Odds To Win The Super Bowl at DraftKings

Individual matchups were also awarded 5 points if they included:

  • Traditional, geographic or postseason rivalries
  • Are scheduled to air on national TV
  • Include a major secondary storyline in addition to the game itself (i.e. Mike McCarthy's Return To Green Bay; Tom Brady vs Aaron Rodgers; a playoff rematch, a potential Super Bowl preview, etc)
  • Have potential for extreme weather and/or a strong home-field advantage

Super Bowl odds standings were averaged for each matchup. 

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Top 25 Most Watchable Games This Season

Here are the top 25 games in the Bookies.com Watchability Index for the upcoming NFL season. Games are listed with their week, the matchup, the BWI score and the current spread as listed at DraftKings. 

Ranking Week Matchup BWI Line
1. Week 6 Bills at Chiefs 73 BUF -1.5
2. Week 3 Packers at Bucs 73 TB -3.5
3. Week 1 Bills at Rams 69.5 LAR -1
4. Week 14 Chiefs at Broncos 68.5 DEN -4.5
5. Week 10 Cowboys at Packers 68.5 GB -4
6. Week 9 Rams at Bucs 67.5 TB -1.5
7. Week 4 Chiefs at Bucs 67.5 TB -2.5
8. Week 8 Packers at Bills 67.5 GB -4
9. Week 15 Rams vs Packers 66.5 Pick
10. Week 2 Chargers at Chiefs 65.5 KC -3
11. Week 1 Bucs at Cowboys 64.5 TB -3
12. Week 12 Rams at Chiefs 64.5 KC -2.5
13. Week 11 Chiefs at Chargers 64 LAC -1.5
14. Week 17 Rams at Chargers 64 LAC -1.5
15. (T) Week 14 Broncos at Chiefs 63.5 Pick
15. (T) Week 17 Bills at Bengals 63.5 Pick
17. Week 7 Chiefs at 49ers 63.5 KC -1
18. (T) Week 16 Broncos at Rams 63.5 LAR -3.5
18. (T) Week 8 49ers at Rams 63.5 LAR -3.5
20. Week 5 Colts at Broncos 63 DEN -3
21. Week 14 Bengals at Bucs 63 TB -3.5
22. Week 5 Cowboys at Rams 63 LAR -4.5
23. Week 6 Broncos at Chargers 61.5 LAC -3
24. Week 13 Chiefs at Bengals 61.5 Pick
25. Week 3 49rs at Broncos 61 DEN -2.5

(T): Denotes Tie

Bills-Chiefs Rematch Tops Watchability List 

The most watchable game this season occurs in Week 6, when the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills meet at 4:25 p.m. ET on Oct. 16 on CBS. This is a rematch of the epic AFC Divisional Round playoff game from last January won by the Chiefs 42-36 in OT. 

Josh Allen whiffed on the coin toss. The Chiefs would score on the first possession of OT but only after 25 points were scored in the final three minutes of regulation. This game resulted in a rule change that guarantees both teams at least one possession in overtime playoff games. 

The Bills are favored on NFL betting markets by 1.5 points at DraftKings. 

The two teams have a combined win total of 22. The Bills are the favorites to win the Super Bowl and thus received 32 points in that category. The Chiefs are tied for 3rd, and thus got 30. The average of those numbers (31) was used for our list. Finally, the game was awarded 5 points for the multiple underlying storylines, 5 points for the expected raucous crowd at Arrowhead Stadium, 5 points for the rivalry factor and 5 points for being on national TV. 

That game edged the Brady-Rodgers rematch scheduled for Week 3 on Sept. 25. The Buccaneers home opener tied with the Bills-Chiefs game at 73 in the BWI, but finished second due to the current NFL line. It has the Bucs -3.5. 

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Top 25 Least Watchable Games This Season

Here are the Top 25 least watchable games in the Bookies.com Watchability Index (BWI) for the upcoming NFL season. Games are listed with their week, the matchup, the BWI score and the current spread as listed at DraftKings.

Ranking Week Matchup BWI Line
1. Week 3 Texans at Bears 13.5 CHI -3
2. Week 15 Lions at Jets 13.5 NYJ -2.5
3. Week 11 Bears at Falcons 14.5 Pick
4. Week 5 Texans at Jaguars 15 JAX -3.5
5. Week 17 Jaguars at Texans 15 Pick
6. Week 5 Texans at Jaguars 15 JAX -3.5
7. Week 10 Texans at Giants 16 NYG -3
8. Week 3 Falcons at Seahawks 16.5 SEA -3.5
9. Week 11 Commanders at Texans 18 WAS -3
10. Week 4 Seahawks at Lions 18 DET -1
11. Week 13 Jaguars at Lions 18.5 DET -2
12. Week 17 Jets at Seahawks 19 SEA -1.5
13. Week 13 Steelers vs Falcons 19.5 PIT -2.5
14. Week 11 Lions at Giants 19.5 NYG -1.5
15. Week 12 Falcons at Commanders 20 WAS -5
16. Week 12 Bears vs Jets 20 NYJ -2
17. (T) Week 4 Bears vs Giants 20.5 NYG -2.5
17. (T) Week 8 Giants at Seahawks 20.5 SEA -2.5
17. (T) Week 16 Lions at Panthers 20.5 CAR -2.5
20. Week 7 Giants at Jaguars 21 JAX -1.5
21. Week 2 Texans at Broncos 21.5 DEN -10.5
22. Week 12 Texans at Dolphins 22 MIA -7
23. Week 4 Jets vs Steelers 22 PIT -3.5
24. Week 10 Lions at Bears 22 CHI -1.5
25. Week 2 Panthers at Giants 22.5 NYG -1

(T): Denotes Tie

Texans-Bears Least Watchable Contest 

The least watchable game is scheduled for Week 3 as the Chicago Bears visit Houston. It has a score of 13.5. The teams are projected to win just 11 games combined. The Texans are ranked 32nd when it comes to odds to win the Super Bowl (+25000), while the Bears are tied for 28th at +15000. Both teams begin the season with new coaches, untested second-year starters at quarterback and low expectations. The game was also shut out in the other categories. 

The Texans are featured in seven of the 25 least watchable games. The moribund Jets visit the Detroit Lions in Week 18 on Dec. 18. That game is ranked 271st in the Bookies.com Watchability Index. Its score is the same as the Texans-Bears game, but finished second-to-last due to its slightly smaller point spread. 

The NFL has a full schedule on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Lions-Panthers game is set for a 1 p.m. ET Christmas Eve kickoff. Only friends and family are expected to be in attendance. 

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About the Author

Bill Speros for Bookies.com
Bill Speros
Bill Speros is an award-winning journalist and editor whose career includes stops at USA Today Sports Network / Golfweek, Cox Media, ESPN, Orlando Sentinel and Denver Post.