A lopsided matchup of non-traditional teams did well enough for FOX.
The Cardinals/Panthers NFC Championship Game drew a 26.8 overnight rating on FOX Sunday evening, up 11% from Colts/Patriots on CBS last year (24.2) but down 14% from 49ers/Seahawks in 2014 (31.0). Compared to last year’s Packers/Seahawks NFC Championship, which aired in the early window, overnights dropped 8% from a 29.1.
The 26.8 overnight is the second-lowest for the NFC Championship Game in seven years, since the Cardinals’ previous appearance against the Eagles in 2009 (24.0). Over that span, only 49ers/Falcons in 2013 had a lower overnight (26.1). It is also the second-lowest for the late conference championship window since Ravens/Steelers in ’09 (23.8), ahead of only Colts/Patriots last year.
The Panthers’ blowout win ranked well behind the Patriots/Broncos AFC Championship earlier in the day, which scored a 31.8 on CBS. This year was the second straight in which the late conference championship game has trailed the early window.
(Sun. numbers from CBS Sports)
