The game was ugly and the ratings nothing special, but Sunday Night Football still managed a double-digit increase on NBC.
The Week 5 Bengals/Patriots Sunday Night Football game drew a 12.8 overnight rating on NBC, up 10% from Texans/49ers last year (11.6) and up 9% from Chargers/Saints in 2012 (11.7). The 10% increase is the highest of the season on NBC, well above the previous mark of 4% for the Kickoff Game.
Despite the increase, the 12.8 marks the second-lowest overnight of the season on NBC (six telecasts). Only Steelers/Panthers two weeks earlier drew a lower overnight (12.2).
Sunday Night Football trailed the NFL national window on CBS by only 3% (13.2 to 12.8), the smallest gap between the telecasts this season.
Boston was the top market for the Patriots’ 26-point win, earning a 36.1 rating. Cincinnati (35.6) ranked second, followed by Providence (30.1), Dayton (24.6) and New Orleans (17.3).
(Sun. numbers from NBC Sports via TV By the Numbers)
