A weak matchup brought season-low ratings to Sunday Night Football.
Steelers-Chargers averaged an 8.6 rating and 14.89 million viewers on NBC Sunday night, marking the lowest rated and least-watched Week 6 Sunday Night Football game in three years (2016 Colts-Texans: 8.1, 13.60M).
Pittsburgh’s win also ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched SNF game of the season, falling well below the previous marks of 10.3 and 17.64 million for Eagles-Falcons in Week 2.
Ratings declined 30% and viewership 29% from Week 6 last year, a much-hyped matchup between the Chiefs and Patriots (12.3, 21.11M). Compared to Week 6 in 2017, the Broncos against the then-winless Giants, ratings fell 9% (from 9.4) and viewership 8% (from 16.1M).
Ratings and viewership have declined for four of the past five Sunday night games (dating back to Week 2), the lone exception being Cowboys-Saints in Week 4.
The Steelers entered Sunday’s game at 1-4 and Los Angeles at 2-3. There had been speculation that the NFL would flex the game out of the Sunday night slot, possibly in favor of 49ers-Rams, but no change was made. While the game ended up being close, Pittsburgh led 21-0 at halftime — the largest halftime margin on SNF since 2016.
As one would expect, SNF still dominated the competing Yankees-Astros American League Championship Series game on FS1 (3.2, 5.59M).
Pittsburgh led all markets Sunday night with a 41.9 rating and a 60 share. San Diego, the Chargers’ former home, ranked second at a 17.3/34. Las Vegas (12.5/23), Milwaukee (12.4/21) and Indianapolis (12.3/20) rounded out the top five.
Los Angeles finished outside of the top ten at a 9.3/20.
SNF drew a 4.6 rating in adults 18-49 (-35%), the series’ lowest Week 6 rating in the demo since 2005 — the last year ESPN held the rights (Texans-Seahawks: 2.5). Its 3.3 rating in adults 18-34 (-41%) is also the lowest since 2005 (2.5).
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 10.15 a, b; NBC Sports PR]
