The Jets/Patriots rivalry attracted the customary large audience Sunday, but still trailed last year’s comparable game.
The Week 7 NFL national window, featuring Jets/Patriots in 92% of markets, earned a 16.2 overnight rating on CBS Sunday afternoon — down a tick from coverage featuring Packers/Vikings on FOX last year (16.3), but up 7% from coverage featuring Patriots/Chargers on CBS in 2010 (15.1).
Despite the decline, the 16.2 overnight is the fourth-highest of the season for the NFL on any network. The three top telecasts of the season all occurred in Week 1 — the Cowboys/Giants Kickoff Game (16.5), the 49ers/Packers national window (17.2), and the Steelers/Broncos “Sunday Night Football” game (18.0).
Earlier in the day, regional NFL action featuring Ravens/Texans earned a mere 7.2 overnight — down 29% from coverage featuring Falcons/Lions on FOX last year (10.1), and down 36% from regional action on CBS in 2010 (11.3).
Excluding games on NFL Network, the 7.2 is the lowest overnight of the season for any NFL telecast.
(Sunday’s numbers from Sports Business Daily)
