Ratings were up, and down, for the NFC Championship Game.
Sunday’s Rams-Saints NFC Championship Game delivered a 27.1 overnight rating on FOX, down 1% from Jaguars-Patriots on CBS last year (27.3) and down 1% from Packers-Falcons on FOX in 2017 (27.4). Compared to last year’s Vikings-Eagles NFC Championship, which aired in the late window, overnights increased 10% from a 24.7.
The Rams’ controversial win delivered the lowest overnight for the early conference championship window since 2013 (49ers-Falcons: 26.1). Keep in mind the late window has generated lower overnights on multiple occasions over that span — last year, 2016 (Cardinals-Panthers: 26.8) and 2015 (Colts-Patriots: 24.2).
It was just the second postseason window to decline from last year, joining Chargers-Patriots in the Divisional Round. Given the slight decline in the metered markets, it is possible that ratings could still increase in the final nationals.
Despite the lower numbers, Rams-Saints was the top television program on FOX since the network last carried the Super Bowl two years ago (48.8).
New Orleans was the top market with a 59.5 rating, down 6% from the last time the Saints made the title game in 2010 (63.2). Los Angeles turned in a 26.4, topping all five games of last year’s Dodgers World Series.
[Numbers from Fox Sports PR 1.21]
