The Dallas Cowboys are referred to as America’s team for a reason.
The Cowboys’ loss to the Cardinals drew a 16.1/32 overnight on FOX Sunday evening, marking the best overnight for any NFL telecast this season. The 16.1 overnight is actually down 13% from an 18.5 for the comparable game last year — Patriots/Cowboys, which was a match-up of undefeated teams at the time.
So far this season, the Cowboys account for five of the six biggest overnight ratings for NFL games, and the biggest overnights of the season on FOX, NBC and ESPN.
The early game on FOX drew a 10.1/23 overnight, down 13% from an 11.6 for single game coverage on the network last year.
Meanwhile, CBS drew a 9.0/20 overnight for its single game NFL coverage on Sunday, up 5% from an 8.6 for coverage in the comparable timeslot last year, when the network aired a doubleheader.
Over on NBC, Sunday Night Football won the ratings battle with baseball, though the NLCS cut into the numbers for Patriots/Chargers. The Chargers’ victory drew a 9.4/15 overnight rating on NBC, up 12% from an 8.4 for Saints/Seahawks last year, but the lowest overnight of the season for Sunday Night Football.
Biggest overnight ratings for NFL games this season.
16.1: Cowboys/Cardinals (Sun., 10/12, 4:15 PM FOX)
15.3: Washington/Cowboys (Sun., 9/28, 4:15 PM FOX)
15.2: Patriots/Jets (Sun., 9/14, 4:15 PM CBS)
14.4: Cowboys/Packers (Sun., 9/21, 8:30 PM NBC)
14.3: Cowboys/Browns (Sun., 9/7, 4:15 PM FOX)
