The closest game of the season on Thursday Night Football failed to move the needle in any appreciable way.
The Week 7 Jets/Patriots Thursday Night Football game drew a 10.1 rating and 16.1 million viewers on CBS and NFL Network, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 140% in ratings and 137% in viewership from Seahawks/Cardinals on NFL Network and local affiliates last year (4.2, 6.8M).
The Patriots’ two-point win, which came down to the final play, marked the smallest margin of victory for a Thursday night game this season. It was also the only Thursday night game that was competitive from start to finish.
Despite a close game, Thursday Night Football did not improve much, if at all, over previous weeks. While Patriots/Jets increased slightly from Colts/Texans the previous week (10.0, 15.9M), it drew fewer viewers than the Packers’ 32-point win over the Vikings in Week 5 (16.5M) and the Giants’ 21-point win over Washington in Week 4 (16.3M).
Through Week 7, Thursday Night Football has averaged a 10.0 and 16.1 million viewers on CBS and NFL Network — up 79% in both measures from last year on NFL Network and local affiliates (5.6, 9.0M), but the smallest audience in six years for a primetime NFL package on broadcast TV at this point of the season. NBC’s Sunday Night Football averaged a 15.8 million through Week 7 in 2008.
Among adults 18-49, Patriots/Jets drew a 5.4 rating. Last year’s Seahawks/Cardinals game drew a 2.3 on NFL Network (not including local affiliates).
(Thu. numbers from CBS Press Express)
