For the first time all season, ratings and viewership declined for the NFL national window.
The Week 8 NFL national window, featuring Washington/Broncos, earned a 15.3 final rating and 25.5 million viewers on FOX last Sunday — down 4% in ratings and 5% in viewership from coverage featuring Giants/Cowboys last year (16.0, 26.9M), but up 5% and 4%, respectively, from coverage featuring Patriots/Steelers in 2011 (14.6, 24.6M).
This marks the first time all season that ratings and viewership have declined for the NFL national window. The numbers were also the second-lowest of the season for the national window, only ahead of the previous week.
Despite the decline, the telecast was easily the top draw of Week 6. No other telecast even managed a double-digit rating — a rarity for the NFL.
Earlier in the day, regional action featuring Cowboys/Lions drew a 9.7 and 15.5 million viewers.
(Week 8 finals from Sports Business Daily)
