There was a reason why NBC and CBS battled over Sunday’s Patriots/Broncos clash.
The Week 15 NFL national window, featuring the Patriots’ win over the Broncos, earned a 19.5 overnight rating on CBS Sunday afternoon — up 16% from Week 15 last year (NYJ/PIT*: 16.8), and up 29% from Week 15 in 2009 (GB/PIT*: 15.1, FOX).
The 19.5 overnight is the highest for a regular season NFL game on a single network since the Week 9 national window in 2007 (NE/IND*: 22.5, CBS). The previous four-year high was a 19.1 overnight for this year’s Week 6 national window, which featured Cowboys/Patriots.
Of note, the three highest NFL overnight ratings this season have been for telecasts featuring the Patriots.
The first half of Sunday’s doubleheader on CBS earned a 7.2 overnight, down 33% from Week 15 last year (10.7), and down 15% from Week 15 in 2009 (8.5, FOX).
(Sunday’s numbers from USA Today)
