Coming one week after Giants/Cowboys sputtered in the ratings, Seahawks/Cowboys delivered a season-high by several lengths.
The Week 8 Seahawks/Cowboys NFL national window drew a 19.5 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon, up 50% from coverage on CBS featuring Colts/Steelers last year (13.0) and up 11% from coverage on FOX featuring Washington/Broncos in 2013 (17.5). The 19.5 overnight is the highest of the season for an NFL telecast, topping the previous high of 17.8 for Cowboys/Eagles on FOX in Week 2.
Going back further, the 19.5 is tied as the highest regular season NFL overnight on a single network since 2007, when CBS drew a 22.5 for Patriots/Colts. According to Sports Business Daily, it is also the highest for a regular season game on FOX since 1996.
The numbers are especially impressive given both teams entered Sunday’s game under .500, with the Cowboys winless since losing QB Tony Romo. No other sporting event came close over the weekend, with Packers/Broncos on Sunday Night Football (14.3) and Game 5 of the World Series (11.7) cannibalizing each other later in the night.
Earlier in the day, regional action featuring Giants/Saints in 46% of markets had a 10.9 overnight — up 3% from coverage on CBS last year (10.6) and even with coverage on FOX featuring Cowboys/Lions in 2013 (10.9).
FOX started the day with a 5.9 overnight for the early morning Lions/Chiefs game from London, down 11% from Lions/Falcons last year (6.6). The 5.9 also trailed the Jets/Dolphins from London in Week 4, which aired in the same timeslot on CBS (7.2).
(Wknd. overnights via Sports Business Daily)
