HOUSTON -- Television ratings of the Houston Texans' debut bore out the game's nickname as the "Texas Super Bowl.''

Sunday night's game, which was carried on ESPN and simulcast locally on KTRK, had a Nielsen rating of 42.2, which meant an approximate television audience of 772,935 households.

By comparison, the real Super Bowl this year drew slightly fewer viewers in the Houston market with a 40.7 share.

ESPN estimates the game was seen nationally by 8.35 million households, which would make it the most-watched NFL game on the network in at least three years and one of the most-watched cable programs ever, the Houston Chronicle reported.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, the game had a combined 33.7 Nielsen rating.