Ratings and viewership mostly declined on the first Sunday of the NFL season, with Eagles-Patriots the lone exception.
Sunday’s NFL national window on CBS (Eagles-Patriots in 69% of markets) averaged a 10.1 rating and 21.35 million viewers, up 21% in ratings and 28% in viewership from last year (Chiefs-Cardinals: 8.3, 16.62M) and largest Week 1 audience on CBS since 2015 (Ravens-Broncos: 23.29M).
The telecast delivered the largest audience of the day and comfortably outdrew the competing late window on FOX (Packers-Bears in 84% of markets), which averaged an 8.0 and 16.27 million — down 13% and 12% respectively from last year (mostly Packers-Vikings: 9.2, 18.55M).
Overall, four of five Sunday NFL windows declined double-digits from last year. The Cowboys’ 40-0 rout of the Giants on NBC’s Sunday Night Football averaged a 10.4 and 21.8 million viewers (20.18 million per Nielsen, plus 1.8 million streaming viewers per Adobe Analytics), down 15% in ratings and 13% in viewership from Buccaneers-Cowboys a year ago (12.3, 25.0M).
Viewership for Dallas’ win, the most-lopsided shutout ever on the NBC version of SNF, peaked at 25.9 million in the first half of the game from 9-9:15 PM ET.
Due to the strength of last Thursday’s Lions-Chiefs Kickoff Game, which pulled a 13.0 and 27.5 million (24.75 million per Nielsen, plus 2.8 million streaming viewers per Adobe Analytics), NBC still ended up with its most-watched opening weekend since 2015 (24.9M).
Returning to the afternoon slate, the two early windows posted the biggest declines of the day. CBS averaged a 6.5 and 12.82 million for coverage featuring Bengals-Browns in 52% of markets, down 25% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (mostly Steelers-Bengals: 8.7, 17.39M).
FOX brought up the rear with a 5.3 and 10.19 million for coverage featuring 49ers-Steelers in 75% of markets, down 18% and 16% respectively from a year ago (mosly 49ers-Bears: 6.4, 12.15M).
Figures for Monday’s Bills-Jets game will not be available until later Tuesday.
For the full list of NFL ratings this season, see this page. For additional weekend sports viewership, see the weekly chart.
