The Cowboys' first appearance on "SNF" since Week 1 helped NBC improve its Week 11 ratings, while CBS was down for its windows with a slate of non-competitive games. NBC last night drew a 13.5 overnight for the Eagles' 37-9 win over the Cowboys, up 13% from Packers-Redskins last year in Week 11. That figure also is up from an 11.7 for Bengals-Cardinals in '15. Eagles-Cowboys delivered a primetime win for NBC, peaking at a 14.4 rating from 9:30-10:00pm ET. Philadelphia led all markets with a 35.3 local rating, followed by a 30.0 in Dallas-Ft. Worth. Rounding out the top five markets were San Antonio (25.6), Austin (21.9) and Richmond (21.7). Meanwhile, CBS drew its lowest Week 11 national window in a number of years, as the Patriots won 33-8 over the Raiders in Mexico City. That game drew a 12.6 overnight, down 18% from a 15.4 last year for a window highlighted by Eagles-Seahawks. CBS also drew a 7.3 overnight for its regional window at 1:00pm, down 39% from last year. Fox drew a 10.3 overnight for its singleheader yesterday, up 8% (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
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NFL WEEK 11 SUNDAY OVERNIGHT RATINGS
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NET
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'17 GAME
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RAT.
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'16 GAME
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RAT.
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% +/-
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Fox
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(single)
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10.3
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(single)
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9.5
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8.4%
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CBS
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(regional)
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7.3
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(regional)
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11.9
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-38.7%
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CBS
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Patriots-Raiders (86%)
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12.6
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Eagles-Seahawks (78%)
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15.4
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-18.2%
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NBC
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Cowboys-Eagles
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13.5
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Packers-Redskins
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11.9
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13.4%
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THE REVIEWS ARE IN: Panthers TE Greg Olsen served as an analyst yesterday for Fox' telecast of Rams-Vikings, and USA TODAY's Lindsay Jones wrote broadcast nets "will line up to hire him" when he retires from playing. Olsen earned "rave reviews on social media for his astute analysis" (
USATODAY.com, 11/19). In St. Paul, Charley Walters noted Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph "had some fun" with Fox' decision to allow Olsen in the booth despite the
home team's protests. Rudolph joked, "I’m going to try to get the Jets-Carolina game (next Sunday), so we’re going to see how that works out." Rudolph said that Olsen working the game did not "bother him." He also did not think Olsen's presence in the booth "will be beneficial" for the Panthers when they play the Vikings on Dec. 10 (
ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/19). The L.A. Times'
Sam Farmer tweeted, "Olsen sounds like a natural." SI's
Jonathan Jones: "Olsen has been fantastic in the FOX booth, and credit to Charles Davis for giving him breathing room to make his points." ESPN's
Cian Fahey: "Broadcasters should always grab a current player from one of the teams on a bye to go in the booth. Greg Olsen has been great."
VIEW FROM ABOVE: THE MMQB's Peter King writes he "loved the SkyCam" used by NBC during Titans-Steelers on "TNF." King: "I love to see what a quarterback sees when he takes the snap, and this was the perfect way to put yourself in the quarterback’s shoes" (SI.com, 11/20). USA TODAY's Jones wrote after watching "TNF," it was "almost disappointing" to watch yesterday's games with the "traditional camera angle." Jones: "Note to networks: More SkyCam, please" (USATODAY.com, 11/19). In San Diego, Nick Canepa wrote, "I like NBC’s behind-the-quarterback-Madden-look SkyCam. Not for all 60 minutes, but it can be fascinating" (SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.com, 11/18). NBC does not plan to use SkyCam for Giants-Redskins on Thanksgiving (THE DAILY).
TAKING THE HIGH ROAD: OUTSPORTS.com's Cyd Zeigler reported CBS used "crowd noise to mask the chanting of a gay slur" during Patriots kicks in their game yesterday in Mexico City against the Raiders. The slur "may have been identifiable on one of the kicks, [and] CBS did a really good job" of masking it throughout the game. CBS "just set the new industry standard that every other network broadcasting sporting events from Mexico will need to follow" (OUTSPORTS.com, 11/19).
TWO THUMBS UP: In Baltimore, David Zurawik wrote CBS' team of Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and sideline reporter Jenny Dell "did solid work" for the Ravens' 23-0 win over the Packers. Gannon was "especially strong." Zurawik: "He didn’t take me inside any chess matches going on between opposing coaches or the trench warfare between two linemen the way Tony Romo has been doing all season, but he went deeper than I can remember him ever going." Harlan was "solid as well, and he never let up even when the game was out of reach" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 11/19).
SCOUTING REPORT: NBC's Al Michaels said of Romo, "I knew he'd be damned good. ... I could tell how totally into it he was. He's not just another ex-jock getting into the business for awhile. He is totally immersed for the long run. Tim McCarver was the same way when we did baseball together." Meanwhile, Michaels said of AT&T Stadium, where "SNF" broadcast from last night, "To me it is the best stadium there has ever been and I'm including all the games and events I've done around the world. The stadium is nine years old and it still is the best" (DALLASNEWS.com, 11/17).
