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NFL Conference Championship Doubleheader Sees Lowest Overnight Rating Since '09

The NFL's doubleheader yesterday -- Patriots-Jaguars followed by Eagles-Vikings -- looks to be its lowest overnight rating for conference championship Sunday since '09 (Cardinals-Eagles, Steelers-Ravens). In the late afternoon window yesterday (3:00-6:15pm ET), Pats-Jags drew a 27.3 overnight on CBS, which is down slightly from Fox' 27.4 for Falcons-Packers last year, but down big from two years ago, when a Peyton Manning-led Broncos team defeated the Patriots (31.8). Boston led all markets yesterday for Pats-Jags with a 50.1 local rating, which is down from a 51.6 rating in the market last year for the AFC title game in primetime on CBS (Pats-Steelers). Jacksonville yesterday ranked No. 2 with a 48.0 local rating. Rounding out the top five were Providence (39.1), Buffalo (36.4) and New Orleans (35.9). The game yesterday peaked with a 31.8 rating from 5:30-6:00pm. Meanwhile, the Eagles' blowout win over the Vikings on Fox in primetime last night drew a 24.7 overnight, which is the lowest for any conference title game since CBS drew a 24.2 for the Pats' blowout of the Colts in '15 in primetime (Deflategate game). The Pats-Steelers game in primetime last year drew a 27.6 overnight. Minneapolis-St. Paul led all markets for Eagles-Vikes with a 54.4 local rating, which is down from a 58.7 in '10, when the Vikes played the Saints in primetime in the NFC Championship. Philadelphia drew a 50.3 local rating yesterday, which is up from a 44.3 for the Eagles' last NFC Championship appearance in '09 against the Saints in the late afternoon window (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).

AFC/NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP OVERNIGHT RATINGS TREND
YEAR
NET
AFTERNOON
RAT.
NET
PRIMETIME
RAT.
'18
CBS
Patriots-Jaguars
27.3
Fox
Eagles-Vikings
24.7
'17
Fox
Falcons-Packers
27.4
CBS
Patriots-Steelers
27.6
'16
CBS
Broncos-Patriots
31.8
Fox
Panthers-Cardinals
26.8
'15
Fox
Seahawks-Packers
29.1
CBS
Patriots-Colts
24.2
'14
CBS
Broncos-Patriots
29.5
Fox
Seahawks-49ers
31.0
'13
Fox
49ers-Falcons
26.1
CBS
Ravens-Patriots
27.9
'12
CBS
Patriots-Ravens
29.1
Fox
Giants-49ers
33.4
'11
Fox
Packers-Bears
30.0
CBS
Steelers-Jets
31.3
'10
CBS
Colts-Jets
28.4
Fox
Saints-Vikings
33.3
'09
Fox
Cardinals-Eagles
24.0
CBS
Steelers-Ravens
23.8

INVISIBLE HAND: SI.com's Richard Deitsch wrote given the importance of Patriots QB Tom Brady's stitched-up throwing hand, CBS' "The NFL Today" went "live to Brady on the field and had game analyst Tony Romo offer his thoughts on his warm-ups." As the show "shifted back to the regular studio group, the camera stayed on Brady’s throwing -- a smart production decision." The producers then "went back again to Romo after giving him a decent sample size to look at in warmups." It was an "excellent sequence -- and important footage for viewers" (SI.com, 1/21).

GETTING IT DONE: In Tampa, Tom Jones writes Patriots-Jags provided a "pretty good contender for the best game of the season." The call by CBS' Jim Nantz and Romo "equalled the drama and emotion of the game." Romo is "by far the best analyst to come along" since John Madden, and it "feels as if his presence has reinvigorated Nantz." He was "excited and emotional, and his calls on each play equalled the level of each one’s importance." The two were "helped by amazing camera work by CBS, particularly on a did-he-or-didn’t-he New England fumble in the fourth quarter and the helmet-to-helmet hit" that knocked Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski out of the game (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/22). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes Romo was "overly chatty," but he was also "terrific." He "had fun, busting CBS's chops for a misplayed replay" (N.Y. POST, 1/22). Also in N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote either Romo is "good at fooling people, or those who swear by him are blindly using the same rubber stamp." There are "many holes in his game," such as his "inability to stop running his mouth, his inability to clearly explain the rules and his lame sound effects" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/21). USA TODAY's Nate Davis notes Romo "sure seemed to have a man crush" on Jags defensive coordinator Todd Wash (USATODAY.com, 1/22). 

WHEREVER I MAY ROMO: NFL Network's Scott Hanson tweeted, "Nantz frames the drama and @tonyromo reacts to it like we all are -- with enthusiasm. They’ve won me over this year. Great duo." USA Today's Dan Wolken: "Romo could dial it down like half a Red Bull." Free agent QB Robert Griffin III: "I love how excited Romo is at all times while calling the games. Never boring. All gas NO Breaks." Ravens WR Mike Wallace: "Romo calling the game is like watching a movie with somebody who already seen it before." AP's John Wawrow: "Romo’s entry into broadcasting is exposing the deficiencies of another former #Cowboys QB: Aikman." MSG Networks' Brendan Burke on the Fox crew: "One of the most difficult parts of broadcasting? What Joe Buck and Troy Aikman have been doing in the fourth quarter. They are emptying the bucket and keeping it entertaining. Great job by them and their producer." Politico's Chris Suellentrop: "Honestly think Buck/Aikman is the worst lead network team, in any sport. Possibly in history."

REUNITED AND IT FEELS GOOD: In Boston, Chad Finn notes ESPN's reunion of Chris Berman and Tom Jackson on "NFL Primetime" last night was a "satisfying reminder of a time when that highlight show in particular was both essential and unfailingly enjoyable for football fans." Berman's return to host the post-championship game edition has been "set since he took on his new role." But Jackson’s inclusion was a "pleasant surprise." Originally, Herm Edwards was "supposed to join" Berman and Keyshawn Johnson, but he "left ESPN to become the head football coach at Arizona State" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/22).

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