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NFL Week 13 Overnights: All Partners Lower; Panthers-Seahawks Not A Draw For "SNF"

Week 13 was not kind to NFL broadcast partners yesterday, as each of the four windows saw lower overnight ratings compared to the same Sunday last season. Fox led the way with a 16.6 overnight for the national window yesterday, which featured Giants-Steelers. That figure is down 9% from an 18.2 for a window featuring Panthers-Saints last year. Fox also saw a 29% drop for its regional window. NBC last night drew a 11.5 overnight for Panthers-Seahawks, marking the net's lowest Week 13 "SNF" since Bears-Vikings drew an 11.1 in '08. CBS drew an 11.1 for its singleheader window yesterday, which is its second-best singleheader this season to date, but down slightly from an 11.2 last year. The net had five games in the window yesterday compared to six last year (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).

NFL WEEK 13 SUNDAY OVERNIGHT RATINGS
NET
'16 WINDOW
RAT.
'15 WINDOW
RAT.
% +/-
CBS
(single)
11.1
(single)
11.2
-0.9%
Fox
(regional)
7.8
(regional)
11.0
-29.1%
Fox
Giants-Steelers (85%)
16.6
Panthers-Saints (61%)
18.2
-8.8%
NBC
Panthers-Seahawks
11.5
Colts-Steelers
12.2
-5.7%

BOYS CLUB: CBSSPORTS.com's John Breech noted the Dec. 18 Buccaneers-Cowboys game had "originally been set to air" at 1:00pm on Fox, but was flexed by the NFL to NBC's "SNF" for Week 15. But the decision "shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone," as the Cowboys have been the "one team in the NFL this year that hasn't really been touched by the league's ratings slide." Cowboys-Vikings last week was the "most-watched Thursday night game in league history." By the time the season is over, the Cowboys will have "played in a total of six primetime games this season" (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/4). 

MISTAKEN IDENTITY: In Baltimore, David Zurawik writes CBS' coverage of the Ravens’ "resounding" 38-6 victory over the Dolphins yesterday was "sloppy." Play-by-play man Kevin Harlan late in the game on a Ravens possession said, “Look at Dixon run on second down-and-10 -- brought down on the 10." But the "problem was the runner was [RB] Terrance West -- not Kenneth Dixon." And "what viewers saw seconds after Harlan told them it was Dixon was a fairly tight shot in the middle of the screen of the back of the runner’s jersey as he got to his feet." Zurawik: "And the jersey said WEST." Then as the next play started, Harlan said, “First-and-9 at the goal, Dixon to the end zone.” However, it was not Dixon running the ball but "you guessed it, West." Harlan "did finally correct himself as the replay of the touchdown rolled" (Baltimore SUN, 12/5). 

PAUSE BUTTON: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick asks, "WHAT’S killing the NFL?" He notes during the second quarter of Texans-Packers on CBS, a Packers TD was "followed by commercials," and then, "back from commercials, the kickoff [was] followed by commercials." Mushnick: "Back from commercials, Texans, three plays and punt. Commercials. Back from commercials, Packers, three plays and punt, commercials. Back from commercials, Texans, three plays, then an injury, commercials. Back from commercials, the injured player is still down, commercials" (N.Y. POST, 12/5). 

QUALITY CONTROL: ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth said of the quality of this year's NFL games, "We are watching a hot-garbage product right now. That’s what it boils down to. It is absolutely ridiculous, and the product is suffering. Roger Goodell can come out and say, ‘Hey, the ratings are down in prime time and there’s some reason for it, but don’t push the panic button.’ But it is time to push the panic button. This is not a try-hard league, this is a do-good league. And if you don’t produce in this league, they find somebody else to take your job” (DENVER POST, 12/4). But in Boston, Ben Volin wrote, "Don’t report on the demise of 'Thursday Night Football' just yet." What seems "more likely is the NFL adding a second bye week to the schedule and allowing teams to get extra rest before a Thursday night game instead of scrapping the night altogether" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/4). In Denver, Cameron Wolfe wrote under the header, "NFL's TV Problem Through The Minds Of Drew Brees, Alfred Williams, Chris Harris, Brandon Marshall." Those players have said that officiating and the presidential election were some of the "top hindrances to NFL viewership" this season (DENVER POST, 12/4). 

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