Television ratings and viewership for every game of the 2016 NFL season, compared to last year. Streaming and adults 18-49 numbers listed when available.
Click here to jump to a week: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 13, Week 14, Week 15, Week 16, Week 17, Wild Card weekend, Divisional Round, Conference Championships, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl. Click the following links for previous years’ ratings: 2015, 2014.
2016 NFL TV Ratings
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| Window | Game | Net | Rtg. | +/- | Vwrs. | +/- | Strm. | 18-49 |
| SUPER BOWL | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB51 | NE/ATL | FOX | 45.3 | -3% | 111.3M | -0.5% | 1.72M | 37.1 |
| PRO BOWL | ||||||||
| Pro Bowl | AFC/NFC | ESPN | 4.2 | -7% | 7.4M | -7% | 113K | 2.6 |
| CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS | ||||||||
| Late | PIT/NE | CBS | 24.4 | +1% | 48.0M | +5% | — | 15.4 |
| Early | GB/ATL | FOX | 25.0 | -15% | 46.3M | -13% | 91K | — |
| DIVISIONAL ROUND | ||||||||
| Late Sun. | GB/DAL | FOX | 26.1 | +11% | 48.5M | +13% | 363K | 14.7 |
| Early Sun. | PIT/KC | NBC | 19.8 | -6% | 37.1M | +1% | 260K | 12.0 |
| Late Sat. | HOU/NE | CBS | 16.0 | -15% | 29.8M | -12% | — | 9.4 |
| Early Sat | SEA/ATL | FOX | 16.2 | -10% | 28.7M | -9% | — | — |
| WILD CARD ROUND | ||||||||
| Late Sun. | NYG/GB | FOX | 21.3 | -2% | 39.3M | +1% | — | — |
| Early Sun. | MIA/PIT | CBS | 17.5 | -17% | 29.9M | -16% | — | — |
| Late Sat. | DET/SEA | NBC | 14.8 | -15% | 26.9M | -14% | — | 8.4 |
| Early Sat | OAK/HOU | ABC, ESPN |
14.4 | -3% | 25.1M | -1% | 210K | — |
| WEEK SEVENTEEN | ||||||||
| SNF | GB/DET | NBC | 13.0 | -6% | 23.8M | -2% | — | — |
| Late DH | NYG/WSH (76%) | FOX | 12.3 | +3% | 22.4M | +7% | — | 7.4 |
| Early DH | DAL/PHI (79%) | FOX | 9.65 | +7% | 17.0M | +13% | — | — |
| Early DH | MIA/NE (61%) | CBS | 9.2 | -18% | 16.6M | -11% | — | — |
| Late DH | Regional action | CBS | 6.8 | -34% | 12.1M | -31% | — | — |
| Week seventeen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports | ||||||||
| WEEK SIXTEEN ** TNF aired on NFL Network alone last year |
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| SNF | KC/DEN | NBC | 10.6 | +2% | 21.4M | +20% | 81K | 6.4 |
| MNF | DET/DAL | ESPN | 10.1 | +7% | 18.6M | +18% | 260K | 5.8 |
| Early DH | GB/MIN (71%) | FOX | 10.0 | +8% | 18.4M | +13% | — | — |
| TNF** | NYG/PHI | NBC, NFLN | 10.6 | +194% | 17.9M | +154% | 350K | 5.1 |
| Late DH | TB/NO (66%) | FOX | 8.1 | -48% | 15.4M | -44% | — | — |
| Special | PIT/BAL | NFLN | 6.5 | no gm. | 14.8M | no gm. | — | 4.5 |
| Single | Regional action | CBS | 7.7 | -25% | 14.2M | -19% | — | — |
| Special | CIN/HOU | NFLN | 3.2 | -32% | 6.3M | -23% | — | 1.9 |
| Week sixteen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NFL, NBC Sports, ESPN | ||||||||
| WEEK FIFTEEN ** TNF aired on NFL Network alone last year |
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| Late DH | NE/DEN (83%) | CBS | 14.3 | -2% | 25.0M | even | — | — |
| SNF | TB/DAL | NBC | 13.6 | +30% | 24.1M | +33% | — | 8.1 |
| Single | DET/NYG (48%) | FOX | 10.8 | -26% | 18.7M | -25% | — | — |
| Early DH | Regional action | CBS | 8.8 | +28% | 15.0M | +33% | — | — |
| TNF** | LA/SEA | NBC, NFLN | 8.8 | +132% | 14.7M | +144% | 321K | 4.3 |
| MNF | CAR/WSH | ESPN | 6.8 | +1% | 11.2M | +3% | 201K | 3.6 |
| Special | NYJ/MIA | NFLN | 2.5 | -42% | 4.4M | -41% | — | 1.3 |
| Week fifteen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports, ESPN | ||||||||
| WEEK FOURTEEN ** TNF aired on NFL Network alone last year |
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| SNF | DAL/NYG | NBC | 14.9 | +21% | 26.5M | +26% | 208K | 8.7 |
| Late DH | SEA/GB (67%) | FOX | 14.4 | -13% | 25.3M | -13% | — | — |
| Single | Regional action | CBS | 11.2 | +3% | 19.1M | +3% | — | — |
| TNF** | OAK/KC | NBC, NFLN | 10.5 | +91% | 17.4M | +99% | 417K | 5.6 |
| MNF | BAL/NE | ESPN | 7.8 | +5% | 12.9M | +12% | 253K | 4.2 |
| Early DH | WSH/PHI (68%) | FOX | 7.5 | -16% | 12.3M | -19% | — | — |
| Week fourteen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports | ||||||||
| WEEK THIRTEEN | ||||||||
| Late DH | NYG/PIT (85%) | FOX | 14.6 | -10% | 25.4M | -11% | — | — |
| TNF | DAL/MIN | NBC, NFLN | 12.8 | +16% | 21.8M | +22% | 479K | 6.8 |
| Single | Regional action | CBS | 10.8 | +6% | 18.5M | +8% | — | — |
| SNF | CAR/SEA | NBC | 10.2 | -8% | 17.8M | -7% | — | 6.1 |
| Early DH | DET/NO (37%) | FOX | 7.3 | -22% | 12.2M | -21% | — | — |
| MNF | IND/NYJ | ESPN | 5.0 | -43% | 8.1M | -43% | 157K | 2.6 |
| Week thirteen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports | ||||||||
| WEEK TWELVE | ||||||||
| Special | WSH/DAL | FOX | 14.5 | +1% | 35.1M | +8% | — | 11.3 |
| Special | MIN/DET | CBS | 13.0 | +6% | 27.6M | +9% | — | — |
| Late DH | CAR/OAK (63%) | CBS | 13.2 | -14% | 23.5M | -12% | — | 6.9 |
| Special | IND/PIT | NBC | 10.1 | -27% | 20.9M | -25% | — | 6.9 |
| SNF | KC/DEN | NBC | 10.7 | -27% | 18.4M | -27% | — | 6.2 |
| Single | SEA/TB (39%) | FOX | 9.8 | -20% | 16.8M | -18% | — | 5.1 |
| MNF | GB/PHI | ESPN | 7.8 | +20% | 13.1M | +29% | 254K | 4.2 |
| Early DH | Regional action | CBS | 7.6 | +27% | 12.8M | +31% | — | 3.6 |
| Week twelve numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider, ESPN, Nielsen | ||||||||
| WEEK ELEVEN ** TNF aired on NFL Network alone last year |
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| Late DH | PHI/SEA (78%) | CBS | 13.6 | -12% | 24.4M | -11% | — | — |
| SNF | GB/WSH | NBC | 10.8 | +1% | 18.7M | +4% | — | 6.2 |
| Early DH | BAL/DAL (72%) | CBS | 10.2 | +26% | 17.6M | +28% | — | — |
| Single | CHI/NYG (30%) | FOX | 8.4 | -19% | 14.3M | -18% | — | — |
| TNF** | NO/CAR | NBC, NFLN | 8.1 | +93% | 13.3M | +101% | 305K | 4.2 |
| MNF | HOU/OAK (Mexico) | ESPN | 6.9 | -22% | 11.8M | -17% | 240K | 4.0 |
| Week eleven numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports Group Press Box | ||||||||
| WEEK TEN | ||||||||
| Late DH | DAL/PIT (92%) | FOX | 16.4 | +1% | 28.9M | +2% | — | — |
| SNF | NE/SEA | NBC | 12.7 | +11% | 22.5M | +16% | 189K | 7.7 |
| Early DH | ATL/PHI (44%) | FOX | 9.4 | +11% | 15.9M | +13% | — | — |
| Single | Regional action | CBS | 7.8 | -33% | 13.2M | -33% | — | — |
| MNF | CIN/NYG | ESPN | 6.7 | -13% | 10.7M | -12% | 234K | 3.6 |
| TNF | BAL/CLE | NFLN | 3.5 | -27% | 5.7M | -25% | — | 2.0 |
| Week ten numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider | ||||||||
| WEEK NINE | ||||||||
| Late DH | IND/GB (87%) | CBS | 11.7 | -18% | 20.2M | -16% | — | — |
| Single | DAL/CLE (31%) | FOX | 11.6 | -7% | 20.2M | -4% | — | — |
| SNF | DEN/OAK | NBC | 10.4 | -24% | 18.3M | -20% | — | 6.6 |
| Early DH | Regional action | CBS | 6.9 | -15% | 11.3M | -14% | — | — |
| MNF | BUF/SEA | ESPN | 6.9 | -5% | 11.3M | -2% | 241K | 3.8 |
| TNF | ATL/TB | NFLN | 3.6 | -35% | 5.8M | -34% | — | 2.1 |
| Week nine numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider, ESPN | ||||||||
| WEEK EIGHT ** TNF aired on CBS last year |
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| Late DH | GB/ATL | FOX | 13.1 | -23% | 22.7M | -23% | — | — |
| SNF | PHI/DAL | NBC | 10.2 | -22% | 18.0M | -22% | — | 6.5 |
| Single | Regional action | CBS | 9.5 | +13% | 16.2M | +15% | — | — |
| Early DH | SEA/NO (64%) | FOX | 7.7 | -24% | 12.8M | -23% | — | — |
| MNF | MIN/CHI | ESPN | 6.4 | -18% | 10.5M | -16% | 199K | 3.5 |
| Special | WSH/CIN (London) | FOX | 5.5 | +4% | 8.7M | +4% | — | — |
| TNF** | JAX/TEN | NFLN | 3.2 | -71% | 5.1M | -71% | — | 1.8 |
| Week eight numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider | ||||||||
| WEEK SEVEN ** Compared to streaming game last year |
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| Late DH | NE/PIT | CBS | 12.6 | -13% | 21.7M | -11% | — | — |
| SNF | SEA/AZ | NBC | 10.2 | -16% | 17.7M | -14% | — | 6.0 |
| Single | MIN/PHI (46%) | FOX | 10.1 | -13% | 16.9M | -12% | — | — |
| TNF | GB/CHI | CBS, NFLN | 8.6 | -18% | 14.2M | -17% | — | 4.5 |
| Early DH | Regional action | CBS | 7.0 | -11% | 11.3M | -9% | — | — |
| MNF | HOU/DEN | ESPN | 6.7 | -14% | 11.2M | -8% | 236K | 3.7 |
| Special** | NYG/LA (London) | NFLN | 2.4 | — | 3.7M | +125% | — | — |
| Week seven numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider | ||||||||
| WEEK SIX | ||||||||
| Late DH | DAL/GB (86%) | FOX | 15.8 | +9% | 28.0M | +12% | — | — |
| Single | Regional action | CBS | 10.2 | -4% | 17.2M | -4% | — | — |
| TNF | DEN/SD | CBS, NFLN | 8.7 | -6% | 14.5M | -2% | — | 4.7 |
| SNF | IND/HOU | NBC | 8.1 | -38% | 13.6M | -40% | — | 4.9 |
| Early DH | PHI/WSH (39%) | FOX | 7.7 | -29% | 13.2M | -28% | — | — |
| MNF | NYJ/AZ | ESPN | 5.2 | -40% | 8.4M | -40% | 200K | 3.0 |
| Week six numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider | ||||||||
| WEEK FIVE ** SNF aired opposite presidential debate |
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| Late DH | CIN/DAL (80%) | CBS | 12.1 | -20% | 21.3M | -18% | — | — |
| Single | ATL/DEN (43%) | FOX | 9.4 | -14% | 16.5M | -9% | — | — |
| SNF** | NYG/GB | NBC | 9.3 | -21% | 16.6M | -15% | — | 5.9 |
| Early DH | Regional action | CBS | 9.0 | +8% | 15.2M | +12% | — | — |
| TNF | AZ/SF | CBS, NFLN | 7.4 | -22% | 12.1M | -20% | — | 4.1 |
| MNF | TB/CAR | ESPN | 5.6 | -27% | 9.1M | -26% | 214K | 3.3 |
| Week five numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider | ||||||||
| WEEK FOUR ** TNF aired on CBS last year |
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| Late DH | DAL/SF (84%) | FOX | 13.1 | -13% | 22.7M | -12% | — | — |
| SNF | KC/PIT | NBC | 10.3 | -27% | 18.1M | -25% | 116K | 6.7 |
| Single | Regional action | CBS | 9.4 | -2% | 16.4M | +4% | — | — |
| MNF | NYG/MIN | ESPN | 8.0 | -11% | 13.2M | -9% | 262K | 4.7 |
| Early DH | SEA/NYJ (43%) | FOX | 6.7 | -14% | 11.2M | -13% | — | — |
| TNF** | MIA/CIN | NFLN | 4.8 | -59% | 7.9M | -59% | — | 3.0 |
| Special | IND/JAX (London) | CBS | 4.8 | -25% | 7.7M | -22% | — | — |
| Week four numbers from Programming Insider [1], [2], ShowBuzz Daily | ||||||||
| WEEK THREE ** MNF aired opposite presidential debate |
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| Late DH | PIT/PHI (52%) | CBS | 12.6 | -2% | 22.0M | -1% | — | 7.1 |
| SNF | CHI/DAL | NBC | 11.7 | -11% | 20.6M | -7% | 125K | 7.6 |
| Single | WSH/NYG (31%) | FOX | 11.1 | +3% | 19.2M | +5% | — | — |
| TNF | HOU/NE | CBS, NFLN | 10.6 | +1% | 17.5M | +4% | 398K | 6.1 |
| Early DH | Regional action | CBS | 8.0 | -13% | 13.1M | -13% | — | — |
| MNF** | ATL/NO | ESPN | 4.9 | -41% | 8.0M | -40% | 209K | 3.1 |
| Week three numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider, NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS/NFL Network | ||||||||
| WEEK TWO | ||||||||
| SNF | GB/MIN | NBC | 12.7 | -16% | 22.8M | -14% | 202K | 8.2 |
| Late DH | IND/DEN (74%) | CBS | 12.2 | -21% | 21.4M | -21% | — | 7.0 |
| Single | DAL/WSH (36%) | FOX | 11.0 | +12% | 19.2M | +15% | — | — |
| TNF | NYJ/BUF | CBS, NFLN | 9.5 | -26% | 15.4M | -27% | 314K | 5.4 |
| Early DH | Regional action | CBS | 8.5 | -8% | 14.4M | -6% | — | — |
| MNF | PHI/CHI | ESPN | 7.3 | -10% | 12.1M | -3% | 295K | 4.5 |
| Week two numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS/NFL Network | ||||||||
| WEEK ONE | ||||||||
| Late DH | NYG/DAL (90%) | FOX | 15.5 | +15% | 27.5M | +18% | — | — |
| Kickoff | CAR/DEN | NBC | 14.6 | -10% | 25.2M | -8% | 278K | 9.4 |
| SNF | NE/AZ | NBC | 13.1 | -15% | 23.1M | -14% | 196K | 8.4 |
| Single | Regional action | CBS | 9.3 | -20% | 16.0M | -20% | — | — |
| Early DH | GB/JAX (34%) | FOX | 9.2 | +2% | 15.8M | +6% | — | — |
| MNF | PIT/WSH | ESPN | 7.7 | -9% | 13.0M | -4% | 306K | 4.8 |
| MNF | LA/SF | ESPN | 6.2 | -30% | 10.3M | -28% | 308K | 4.2 |
| Week one numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports | ||||||||
33 Comments
Are these HH ratings, or A18+ ratings or P2+ ratings?
Household ratings, though P2+ viewership and A18-49 ratings are also included on the chart.
This also does not take into account of the thousands who watch for free from their computer. It’s not difficult to find the games streaming online.
This also doesn’t take into consideration that it’s easier to keep up with the NFL on your phone.
To say ratings are down, it is true. But it’s not because of people losing interest. It’s because of different ways to keep up with the game.
This year I watched 2 games live stream on some random website because I was unable to at my house during the time, or they weren’t on my station.
I’ve also kept up with the scores on my phone.
Ratings drop? Sure
Popularity drop? No
So how do you tell the overall NFL viewership? Was it down as a whole?
Down 8% from last year according to ESPN.com, though that does not include Thursday Night Football. http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18412873/nfl-tv-viewership-drops-average-8-percent-season
This is proof the league is not rigged. If it were the boys would be in the superbowl every year. Top 2 selling jerseys, most valuable team in the world by a billion, most team products sold, and if you were ever in the military, when traveling what team is associated with football. The Cowboys. Imagine those insane ratings 200 or 250 million views for super bowl 51 if it’s Cowboys steelers. The league might rig it after that. Triple the cost of comm
ok its clear broadcast nets bring in the ratings cable not so much.
I have always been a die hard football fan. I’ve had season tickets in the past. I have been to 4 Superbowls and I always watched on Sunday, Monday and recently Thursday. All this has changed. I am a Patriots fan.
Now I always watch the Patriots game but I only occasionally watch the other games. All of the negativity surrounding football, especially Brady and the Patriots, has worn down my love of the game. Every Sunday I think I will watch day and night but when I try I am just not able to do it anymore. It has nothing to do with the quality of the games.
I have always been taught to stay away from negative people and events and to try to stay positive. Football has become a negative event for me. I blame the Commissioner! He may make money for the league but he has taken away the positive experience of watching football. Who will he fine next? Who will he suspend? It turns my stomach just to see him on TV.
Maybe my outlook will change over time. I hope it does, I have a love of the game. It is just not the same right now.
How did the Cowboys pull in 35M viewers, but have only at 14.5 rating?
They have pulled in higher ratings on other weeks with much less viewers.
More viewers per home on Thanksgiving.