A high-stakes nailbiter involving the Patriots delivered one of NFL Network’s largest audiences.
NFL Network averaged a 5.5 rating and 9.60 million viewers for Saturday’s Bills-Patriots NFL regular season game, marking its highest rated and most-watched exclusive telecast since Christmas 2016 (Steelers-Ravens: 6.5, 14.77M).
Excluding holidays, New England’s win was the highest rated and most-watched NFL Network exclusive in a decade — since Cowboys-Saints in 2009 (5.7, 10.50M).
Overall, it delivered the fifth-largest audience for an NFL Network exclusive, and the third-largest with holiday games excluded. It was the first Patriots game to air exclusively on NFL Network since 2013.
Ratings increased 53% and viewership 55% from last year (Washington-Tennessee: 3.6, 6.19M) and 77% and 78% respectively from 2017 (Colts-Ravens: 3.1, 5.40M).
Later in the night, Rams-49ers averaged a 4.8 (+5%) and 8.50 million (+4%). Texans-Buccaneers opened the tripleheader with a 3.3 and 5.32 million; there was no comparable window last year.
Highest rated/most-watched exclusive NFL Network games
| Highest rated | Most-watched | ||||||
| # | Year | Game | Rtg | # | Year | Game | Vwrs |
| 1 | 2016 | PIT-BAL | 6.5 | 1 | 2016 | PIT-BAL | 14.77M |
| 2 | 2013 | KC-PHI | 6.0 | 2 | 2011 | SF-BAL | 10.68M |
| 3 | 2009 | DAL-NO | 5.7 | 3 | 2009 | DAL-NO | 10.50M |
| T4 | 2013 | SD-DEN | 5.6 | 4 | 2007 | GB-DAL | 10.06M |
| 2007 | GB-DAL | 5.6 | 5 | 2019 | BUF-NE | 9.60M | |
| T6 | 2019 | BUF-NE | 5.5 | 6 | 2013 | KC-PHI | 9.37M |
| 2015 | MIN-ARIZ | 5.5 | 7 | 2014 | DAL-CHI | 9.11M | |
| 2015 | CLE-CIN | 5.5 | 8 | 2013 | SD-DEN | 8.94M | |
| 2014 | DAL-CHI | 5.5 | T9 | 2013 | NYJ-NE | 8.79M | |
| 2013 | NYJ-NE | 5.5 | 2015 | CIN-CLE | 8.79M | ||
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.24]
