Week 16 prime time ratings.

Sunday Night Football was the beneficiary of flexible scheduling, as a clash of the teams with the two best records in the NFC attracted a large audience. The Giants’ overtime win over the Panthers drew an 11.5 final rating and 18.9 million viewers on NBC, up 32% and 34% from last year’s comparable game, and the fourth best numbers of the season for an NFL telecast on NBC.

With one more game to go, NBC is averaging a 10.2 rating and 16.6 million viewers for NFL coverage, up 2% and 5% respectively from last year’s 10.0 and 15.9 million. Compared to NBC’s first season of Sunday Night Football two years ago, the 10.2 rating is off 9% from an 11.2.

On ESPN, Monday Night Football concluded with its third-most viewed game of the season. The Bears’ overtime win over the Packers drew an 8.4 U.S. rating and 13.8 million viewers, up 65% and 57% respectively from last year’s comparable Broncos/Chargers game.

For the season, ESPN averaged a 7.6 U.S. rating and 12 million viewers for Monday Night Football, up 4% and 7% from last year’s 7.3 and 11.2 million. Compared to ESPN’s first season of MNF in 2006, the 7.6 rating is down 6% from an 8.1.

NFL Network aired two of its three most viewed telecasts of the season during Week 16. Colts/Jaguars last Thursday night drew a 2.4 U.S. rating and 3.9 million viewers, down 17% and 19% from the seventh NFL Network telecast of last season — a Saturday night Cowboys/Panthers game — but still the third-most viewers for an NFL Network telecast this year.

Meanwhile, Saturday night’s Ravens/Cowboys game drew a 3.4 and 5.8 million viewers, up 36% and 28% from Patriots/Giants last year, which was simulcast on CBS and NBC. The Ravens’ victory was easily the highest rated, most viewed NFL Network telecast of the season.

For its eight NFL games, NFL Network averaged 3.7 million viewers, down 20% from 4.6 million for last year’s games. The 2.3 U.S. rating for NFL Network telecasts was down 15% from a 2.7 last year, but up 21% from a 1.9 in 2006.