NFL ratings continue to trend down, though the slide remains modest by 2020 standards.
Last Sunday’s NFL national window (mostly Saints-Eagles) averaged a Nielsen-estimated 12.3 rating and 22.52 million viewers on FOX, the lowest for the window in Week 14 of the season since 2002 and 2011, respectively. Ratings fell 24% and viewership 20% from last year on CBS, when coverage featuring Chiefs-Patriots drew a 16.1 and 28.11 million — still the highest for any regular season NFL window since 2016.
The telecast was still one of the better draws this season, posting the sixth-highest rating thus far.
Earlier in the day, FOX averaged a 7.0 and 12.28 million for the first half of its doubleheader (Vikings-Buccaneers or Cardinals-Giants in most markets) — down 8% in ratings and 2% in viewership from last year on CBS (mostly Ravens-Bills: 7.6, 12.59M). Perhaps misjudging viewer interest in Tom Brady’s Buccaneers, FOX assigned Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to Tampa Bay’s win — a rare early game assignment for the network’s top broadcast team.
Over on CBS, singleheader coverage featuring Chiefs-Dolphins or Colts-Raiders averaged a 9.2 and 16.01 million — down 12% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year, when the featured game was a matchup of 10-2 teams between San Francisco and New Orleans (10.4, 17.76M). Despite the decline, the 9.2 rating is the second-highest for the singleheader this season.
Shifting to primetime, NBC pulled a 9.6 and 17.05 million for Steelers-Bills on Sunday Night Football — the lowest for SNF in Week 14 since 2008 (Washington-Baltimore: 8.1, 13.29M) and down 6% in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (Seahawks-Rams: 10.2, 17.88M). Of NBC’s 15 primetime games this season, 14 have declined in ratings and 13 in viewership.
Bucking the trend of declines, ESPN averaged 12.42 million for the Ravens’ nailbiting win over the Browns on Monday Night Football — the most-watched Week 14 edition of MNF since 2016 (Ravens-Patriots: 12.92M). Viewership increased 9% from last year (Giants-Eagles: 11.36M). It was the most-watched Browns game on ESPN since the network began airing MNF in 2006 (eight telecasts) and peaked with 13.4 million from 11:30-11:45 PM ET.
The full list of 2020 NFL ratings is available here.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.15, ESPN PR 12.15]
