Two of the highest-profile NFL teams combined to give FOX a season-high in the ratings last week.
The Week 6 NFL national window, featuring Cowboys/Patriots in 88% of markets, earned a 17.1 final rating and 28.443 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon — up 9% in ratings and 10% in viewership from Week 6 last year (DAL/MIN: 15.7, 25.980M), and up 17% and 19%, respectively, from Week 6 in 2009 (TEN/NE*: 14.6, 23.946M).
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed NFL telecast of the season, topping the previous high set by the Saints/Packers NFL Kickoff Game (16.0, 27.169M, NBC).
Overall, Sunday’s national window earned the best numbers for any regular season NFL telecast since Week 14 last season (NE/CHI*: 17.5, 30.468M, CBS).
The strong numbers are not surprising considering the drawing power of the Cowboys and Patriots. The last time the teams played each other was during the 2007-08 season, as the featured game of the Week 6 national window on CBS. With the Patriots in the midst of their perfect regular season, the telecast drew an 18.0 rating and 29.100 million viewers.
Earlier Sunday, regional NFL action featuring 49ers/Lions in 33% of markets drew a 10.5 final rating and 17.201 million viewers — up 44% in ratings and 45% in viewership from last year (ATL/PHI*: 7.3, 11.860M), and up 13% and 14%, respectively, from 2009 (BAL/MIN*: 9.3, 15.094M).
The telecast earned the best numbers for the first game of an NFL doubleheader since Week 7 in 2009 (MIN/PIT*: 11.4, 18.512M).
Overall, the two games on FOX were the highest rated and most-viewed of Week 6.
(Nielsen)
