The NFL continues to lead baseball in overall TV audiences. On October 27, 2025, the Monday night game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Commanders drew an estimated 17.6 million viewers in the United States.
Chiefs Pull Millions While Dodgers Falter Proving Baseball Is Still the ‘Little Bro’ (Image via Gridironheroics)
Chiefs Pull Millions While Dodgers Falter Proving Baseball Is Still the ‘Little Bro’ (Image via Gridironheroics)
By comparison, Game 3 of the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays became a marathon contest that drew significant national attention, averaging around 11.4 million viewers in the United States for the entire broadcast.
Per MLB PR,
The #WorldSeries through three games is averaging 18.73M viewers in U.S. and Canada. pic.twitter.com/2zrR6rfq0t
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 30, 2025
The World Series game between the Dodgers and Blue Jays lasted 18 innings and ended close to 3 a.m. Eastern time, which likely lowered U.S. viewership. When Canadian audiences were added, Game 3 averaged 17.6 million viewers in total, a 27 percent rise from the previous year.
NFL Draws Fans Every Week While Baseball Battles Long Games and Late Nights
That gap is not new and it cuts against the idea that baseball is catching up. The numbers reflect habitual viewing more than a one night blip.
The ratings make it clear that football is a major part of American life. Weekly games, prime-time broadcasts, fantasy leagues, and a playoff system designed for drama all keep the NFL at the center of daily conversations.
Baseball brings history and loyal fans, but it does not have the same advantage for live viewing. Many games run long and go late into the night, which cuts into the live audience in a media landscape that values instant access.
Timing matters for advertisers and networks. TV buyers pay more for NFL time slots because the audience size and engagement are reliably higher. That money then shapes promotion schedules and broadcast priorities.
The impact goes far beyond ratings. Media rights fees, stadium investments, and player visibility all lean toward the sport that attracts the largest audience. That momentum builds on itself, making it difficult for any other league to keep pace.
Calling baseball the little brother captures that gap. The sport can grow through streaming and international reach, but the built-in challenges are tough to overcome. The NFL’s shorter weekly schedule gives it a clear edge, creating steady, and predictable viewing habits.
For fans of both sports, the message is clear. Football rules the ratings. Baseball holds on to its traditions and loyal followers, but it now faces the challenge of staying visible in a busy sports landscape where the NFL still sets the pace.