Denied the Aaron Rodgers-Patrick Mahomes matchup for the second time in three years, the NFL nonetheless scored big ratings for Packers-Chiefs.
Last Sunday’s NFL national window, featuring Packers-Chiefs in 93% of markets, averaged a 12.6 rating and 24.37 million viewers on FOX — the most-watched Week 9 NFL telecast since 2014, when coverage featuring Peyton Manning’s Broncos against Tom Brady’s Patriots averaged 29.09 million on CBS.
It also ranks as the most-watched afternoon game of the NFL season, and third-most watched regardless of timeslot. A pair of primetime games on NBC — Brady’s return to New England (26.75M) and the Cowboys-Buccaneers Kickoff Game (24.81M) — hold the top two spots. FOX has now aired three of the season’s ten most-watched games in just the past two weeks.
Ratings inched up 2% and viewership 7% from Week 9 last year (mostly Steelers-Cowboys: 12.4, 22.71M). Compared to 2019, ratings slipped 1% but viewership increased 9% (mostly Packers-Chargers: 12.8, 22.29M). Both windows aired on CBS.
In the first half of the doubleheader, coverage featuring Broncos-Cowboys drew an 8.15 and 15.19 million — up 41% in ratings and 48% in viewership from last year (mostly Ravens-Colts: 5.8, 10.23M) and up 16% and 32% respectively from 2019 (mostly Colts-Steelers: 7.0, 11.49M). Again, those windows aired on CBS.
The rest of the Sunday slate was not as impressive. CBS pulled a 7.3 and 14.03 million for singleheader coverage featuring Browns-Bengals or Chargers-Eagles, down 16% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (8.7, 15.74M) and down 31% and 23% respectively from 2019 (10.5, 18.27M). Those windows aired on FOX.
NBC hit a season-low for second-straight week with an 8.1 and 14.21 million for Titans-Rams on Sunday Night Football — down 15% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year Saints 38, Buccaneers 3 last year (9.5, 16.88M) and down 36% and 35% respectively from 2019 (Patriots-Ravens: 12.7, 22.03M). The previous season-lows were an 8.7 and 15.68 million for Cowboys-Vikings opposite the World Series.
Week 9 ended on a brighter note with a 6.8 and 12.10 million for Bears-Steelers on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, up 15% in ratings and 18% in viewership from last year (Patriots-Jets: 5.9, 10.22M) but down 18% and 13% respectively from ’19 (Cowboys-Giants: 8.3, 13.98M). Eight of nine Monday night games have increased over last year, the lone exception coming in Week 2 — when the comparable telecast last season aired on both ESPN and ABC.
For the full list of 2021 NFL ratings, see this link.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 11.9, network PR]
