World Series competition kept the numbers from reaching the stratosphere, but Sunday’s battle of undefeated teams still did well on NBC.
The Week 8 Packers/Broncos Sunday Night Football game drew a 14.3 overnight rating on NBC, up 25% from Packers/Saints last year (11.4) and up 39% from Packers/Vikings in 2013 (10.3). The 14.3 overnight is the highest yet for SNF opposite the World Series (six telecasts), topping the previous high of 11.8 for Steelers/Saints in 2010.
The Broncos’ blowout win would likely have done far better if not for competition from Game 5 of the World Series on FOX, which had an 11.7 overnight. The last time a pair of undefeated teams met this late in the season, 2007, Patriots/Colts delivered a 22.5 on CBS.
Sunday’s game was the eighth of nine on NBC this season to have an increase in overnights, with the lone exception Eagles/Panthers the previous week (-8%). All nine games on NBC have topped a 13.0 overnight, the network’s longest streak to start the season since resuming coverage in 2006.
For the week, Packers/Broncos ranked well behind the Cowboys/Seahawks national window on FOX (19.5). The national window has topped SNF in the metered markets in seven of eight weeks this season, Week 1 the lone exception.
(Sun. numbers from NBC Sports)
