Deflategate propelled the NFL's opening weekend game involving the Patriots and Tom Brady to record numbers. According to Cynopsis Media:

• 27.4 million viewers watched the game making it the second most watched NFL Kickoff game in history
• The contest registered a national household rating of 16.2/28, also the second best ever.
• NBC Sports Live Extra’s live stream of the game generated record-setting digital numbers with fans consuming more than 32 million minutes
• The game was the highest-trafficked non-Olympic, non-Super Bowl live stream in NBC Sports Digital history