The third head-to-head meeting between Peyton and Eli Manning scored strong numbers for CBS last weekend.
The Week 2 NFL national window, featuring Broncos/Giants, earned a 15.8 final rating and 26.4 million viewers on CBS Sunday, up 30% in ratings and 33% in viewership from coverage featuring Jets/Steelers last year (12.2, 19.9M), and up 19% and 17%, respectively, from coverage featuring Chargers/Patriots (13.3, 22.7M) in 2011.
The telecast ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed “Manning Bowl” — topping the initial meeting in 2006 (14.3, 22.6M) and the second match-up in 2010 (13.8, 23.1M). The previous two games aired on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” which traditionally attracts smaller audiences than the NFL national window.
With that said, the “Manning Bowl” could not match the Week 1 national window on FOX, which featured Packers/49ers in most markets (16.6, 28.5M).
Earlier in the day, regional NFL action drew an 8.0 rating and 12.5 million viewers on CBS — down 7% in ratings and viewership from last year (8.6, 13.4M), and down 6% and 8%, respectively, from 2011 (8.5, 13.6M).
The early window actually drew a lower rating and fewer viewers than the Alabama/Texas A&M college football game on CBS the previous day (8.5, 13.6M).
(Sun. numbers from Nielsen)
