In the first Sunday of games after the presidential election, NFL TV partners got a much-needed boost in the overnight ratings. Fox led the way with its national window yesterday, drawing a 17.8 overnight, which is the best figure for an NFL window this season to date. Fox featured the Cowboys’ 35-30 late comeback win over the Steelers in 92% of markets. The end of Cowboys-Steelers also bumped up against the first half hour of “60 Minutes” on CBS, which featured the first interview with President-elect Donald Trump since the election. In Week 10 last year, CBS had a late window that featured the Patriots’ last-second win over the Giants, drawing an 18.3 overnight. Fox’ 10.4 overnight for early regional games was also its best for that window since Week 1. Meanwhile, NBC last night drew a 14.3 overnight for the Seahawks’ come-from-behind win over the Patriots, marking the net’s best figure since Week 1, when Pats-Cardinals drew a 14.8 overnight. Seahawks-Pats delivered NBC a primetime win and is up 14% from a 12.6 overnight for Cardinals-Seahawks in Week 10 last year. Seattle-Tacoma led all markets last night with a 48.2 local rating, while Boston finished second with a 34.9 (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
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NFL WEEK 10 SUNDAY OVERNIGHT RATINGS
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NET
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'16 TELECAST
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RAT.
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15 NET
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'15 TELECAST
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RAT.
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CBS
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(single)
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8.3
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Fox
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(single)
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11.7
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Fox
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(regional)
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10.4
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CBS
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(regional)
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10.2
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Fox
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Cowboys-Steelers (92%)
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17.8
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CBS
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Patriots-Giants (66%)
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18.3
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NBC
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Seahawks-Patriots
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14.3
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NBC
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Cardinals-Seahawks
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12.6
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SUNDAY FUN DAY: THE MMQB's Peter King writes yesterday was a "magnificent TV day" for the "beleaguered NFL." It was "one of those days you could have put in a DVR time capsule with the label: OPEN WHEN BORED." In the early window, viewers of CBS' Broncos-Saints saw the "craziest win-turned-loss of the year, with the first ending of its kind in NFL history." In the late-afternoon window, viewers for Fox' Cowboys-Steelers saw Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott "force himself into the lead of the MVP race in a game with seven lead changes." To finish off the day, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson outdueled Patriots QB Tom Brady on NBC's "SNF" in a "breathtaking game" (
MMQB.SI.com, 11/14). In Boston, Ron Borges writes Seahawks-Patriots was an "outlier" in a season "filled with less than compelling matchups all across the NFL." It "proved you can still find a great NFL game from time to time" (
BOSTON HERALD, 11/14). Also in Boston, Karen Guregian writes the NFL this season "hasn’t had many compelling games," but Seahawks-Patriots "falls into the exception category." Such a "blockbuster has been a rarity this season," as most primetime matchups have "featured two bad teams, or a decent team against a dud" (
BOSTON HERALD, 11/14). In Seattle, Larry Stone writes Seahawks-Pats was the game the NFL, with its “lagging ratings and a growing perception that the sport is declining in quality just as rapidly, needed badly.” It had “seven lead changes, relentless drama, tremendous performances up and down the line and a riveting finish” (
SEATTLE TIMES, 11/14).
SNOOZE BUTTON: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes Fox' Thom Brennaman and Charles Davis "deserve credit," because they "didn’t fall asleep" yesterday during the Rams' 9-6 win over the Jets. The duo also "managed to let viewers know, without saying it, that they too thought the game sucked." At halftime, Terry Bradshaw sarcastically said, "We got an exciting game so stay tuned." Raissman notes Fox' sidelines shots of Jets coach Todd Bowles, who was "expressionless" throughout the game, were "more exciting than the game itself." The "quality of play, the lack of offense and imagination on that side of the ball, provided another reason why the NFL’s TV ratings are in decline" (
N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/14). Also in N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes while Fox sideline reporter Peter Schrager "wasn't called on a lot" during Rams-Jets, he made his observations "count." They were "delivered concisely so not to intrude." He "saw, knew, [and] reported what was worth knowing" (
N.Y. POST, 11/14).
PLAYING POLITICS: In DC, Mark Maske writes now that the election is over, "much undoubtedly will be made" of whether the NFL's ratings "get an immediate boost." But no one "should expect an overwhelming change right away." Whatever happens with Week 10 ratings, the NFL "should hope for gradual improvement in what remains of this season as the games increase in importance" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 11/14).
CHARLES IN CHARGE: Former NFLer Charles Woodson, now an analyst on ESPN, said of being a member of the media, "It’s a lot different being on the other side of the lens. For so many years, you’re in the arena. A lot of stuff people say on the other side of the lens, you dismiss it. Now you’re in the position where you’re rendering opinions ... now people are getting a chance to hear me on that side and give my opinions." He added, "I think as long as you’re authentic, people will relate to that. I never wanted to be that guy that acted like I wasn’t in the locker room and then all of a sudden I was an analyst. ... When I give an opinion, I want it to be real" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 11/11).
