Randy Moss‘ first game back in New England — which turned out to be his last game as a Viking — earned strong numbers for FOX Sunday afternoon.
FOX earned a 17.0 overnight rating for Sunday’s NFL national window, featuring Vikings/Patriots in 89% of TV markets, down 7% from Week 8 last year (MIN/GB*: 18.3), but up 9% from Week 8 in 2008 (NYG/PIT*: 15.6).
The Vikings/Patriots game included several high-profile storylines, including then-Vikings WR Randy Moss‘ first game back in New England since the Patriots traded him this year, and uncertainty over whether Vikings QB Brett Favre would even play.
However, the drama of Sunday’s game could not match last year’s comparable telecast — which featured Brett Favre‘s first return to Green Bay since leaving the Packers after the 2007-08 season.
The 17.0 overnight for Sunday’s telecast is the fourth-highest of the season for an NFL telecast, behind the Week 1 national window on FOX (GB/PHI*: 17.1), the Week 6 national window on FOX (DAL/MIN: 17.4), and the NFL Kickoff Game on NBC (MIN/NO: 17.7).
Despite their 2-5 record, the Vikings have been featured in three of the top four telecasts.
The national window was easily Sunday’s top sporting event, trouncing not only Sunday Night Football on NBC (PIT/NO: 11.8), but Game 4 of the World Series on FOX (SF/TEX: 10.4).
Earlier in the day, regional action featuring Packers/Jets in 77% of markets drew a 10.4 overnight, down 11% from Week 8 last year (NYG/PHI*: 11.7), and down 13% from 2008 (TB/DAL*: 11.9).
Asterisk (*) indicates featured game of window.
(Rating from Sports Business Daily)
