Final numbers for NFL Wild Card Weekend are already available, but here is a quick look at the overnights.
All four NFL Wild Card games had declines in overnight ratings over the weekend. Lions/Cowboys led the way with a 25.0 overnight on FOX, down 10% from 49ers/Packers last year (27.7) but up 6% from Seahawks/Washington in 2012 (23.7).
Despite the decline, the Cowboys’ comeback victory earned the third-highest overnight for an NFL Wild Card Game since at least 1991, trailing only last year and Steelers/Broncos in 2012 (25.9).
Bengals/Colts drew an 18.5 on CBS earlier in the day, down 9% from Chargers/Bengals last year (20.3) and down 6% from Ravens/Colts in 2012 (19.7). The Colts’ win ranks as the lowest rated Wild Card game in that window since Ravens/Dolphins in 2009 (17.0).
Shifting to Saturday, NBC drew a 17.3 for Ravens/Steelers — down 16% from Saints/Eagles last year (20.5), down 6% from Vikings/Packers in 2012 (18.3), and the lowest for the window since Jaguars/Steelers in 2008 (16.7).
Finally, ESPN had a 13.1 overnight for its debut playoff game between the Cardinals and Panthers — down 24% from Chiefs/Colts last year (17.2), down 19% from Bengals/Texans in 2012 (16.2), and the lowest rated Wild Card game in the metered markets since at least 1998.
(Wknd. overnights from Sports Business Daily, ShowBuzz Daily)
