CBS led all NFL Week 16 windows on Sunday with a 14.8 overnight for the national window featuring Patriots-Ravens. That figure is down 13% from a 17.0 overnight for Fox’ Week 16 national window last season, which featured Giants-Ravens. CBS also earned a 10.8 overnight for its regional window, up 2%. Meanwhile, Fox earned a 13.3 overnight for its singleheader window, up 15% from CBS’ Week 16 single last season. NBC earned a 12.5 overnight for the Eagles’ 54-11 win over the Bears on “SNF” last night, which marked the biggest blowout in the NFL this season to date. The 12.5 overnight is down slightly from a 12.6 rating for 49ers-Seahawks last year. Despite the blowout, “SNF” topped all primetime entertainment shows last night. The game earned a 30.6 local rating in Philadelphia and a 28.2 rating in Chicago (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
| NFL WEEK 16 OVERNIGHT RATINGS |
| NET | '13 GAME | RAT. | 12 NET | '12 GAME | RAT. | % +/- |
| Fox | (single) | 13.3 | CBS | (single) | 11.6 | 14.7% |
| CBS | (regional) | 10.8 | Fox | (regional) | 10.6 | 1.9% |
| CBS | Patriots-Ravens (65%) | 14.8 | Fox | Giants-Ravens (83%) | 17.0 | -12.9% |
| NBC | Bears-Eagles | 12.5 | NBC | 49ers-Seahawks | 12.6 | -0.8% |
| | | | | | | |
CHART NOTE: Inclement weather meant ratings unavailable for Detroit market.
BEASTS OF THE EAST:
BROADCASTING & CABLE's Tim Baysinger noted the NFL yesterday flexed the NFC East-deciding Eagles-Cowboys matchup in Week 17 to NBC's "SNF." The move "means that for the third consective season, the NFC East will be decided" on "SNF." Three other games were also flexed by the league from the 1:00pm ET slot to the 4:25pm slot, including Bills-Patriots, Buccaneers-Saints and Packers-Bears. As is "customary on Week 17, both Fox and CBS will have a doubleheader" (
BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 12/23).
SILENCE IS GOLDEN: In Dallas, Barry Horn wrote Fox' Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch on Sunday "did an admirable job" in calling their first Cowboys game for the net. Horn: "But I really wanted to hear what Lynch ... had to say" about Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Lynch played for Kiffin while with the Buccaneers, and the "first time Burkhardt dutifully approached the subject, Lynch ignored him." After a camera caught a shot of Kiffin, Burkhardt said, "You know that guy, John." Horn noted Lynch responded with an "awkward silence, which some might construe as the greatest possible indictment of a coach charged with leading the worst defense in the NFL" (DALLASNEWS.com, 12/22). Meanwhile, Fox studio analysts Terry Bradshaw and Jimmy Johnson "took turns lambasting the Cowboys and coach Jason Garrett" during Sunday's pregame show. Bradshaw said Garrett is "no head coach" and he "never should have been hired in the first place." Bradshaw: "He's just a yes man for Jerry (Jones)" (MYSANANTONIO.com, 12/22).
BLOWING THE WHISTLE: In Baltimore, David Zurawik wrote he wished CBS' Jim Nantz and Phil Simms during yesterday's Patriots-Ravens telecast would have "had the independence and integrity to call out the officiating team loudly and clearly for one of the worst performances I have ever seen." Nantz and Simms "did disagree with some calls and did predict others would be overturned as they watched the replays." However, when the officiating "sinks to the depths that it did Sunday ... it needs to be denounced in no uncertain terms." Zurawik: "The networks, particularly the announcers at CBS, it seems, are simply afraid to denounce anything connected with the league that chooses who gets what rights to these billion-dollar television contracts" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 12/22).
PREPARING FOR LAST CALL? In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes a meaningless Browns-Jets game "turned in to meaningful" after Fox' Jay Glazer reported Jets coach Rex Ryan told his team prior to the game he believed this is his last year with the team. CBS' Marv Albert "acknowledged the report early in the telecast," and cameras "stayed glued to Ryan." Raissman: "Rex staring at his list of defensive plays. Rex wigging out on an official after Geno Smith was [the] recipient of a late hit out of bounds. Rex running down the sideline after Smith clinched the 24-13 win with a touchdown run." While Ryan "did not dominate Rich Gannon's analysis," the cameras "took care of that" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/23).
CHANGING THE ROUTINE: BROADCASTING & CABLE's Baysinger reports Fox for the second straight season will "tinker with its broadcast assignments for the divisional round of the playoffs." The Burkhardt-Lynch team "will get one of the plum divisional round games." It also will mark "another high-profile assignment for that team's field reporter, Erin Andrews." Meanwhile, the divisional round will be the "swan song" for CBS' Dan Dierdorf, who is retiring from the booth after the season (BROADCASTING & CABLE, 12/23 issue).
