In the ratings, ‘Manning vs. Brady’ was no match for the latest chapter of the Cowboys/Giants rivalry.
The Week 12 Cowboys/Giants NFL national window earned a season-high 18.9 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon, up 15% from coverage featuring 49ers/Saints last year (16.5), and up 21% from coverage on CBS featuring Patriots/Eagles in 2011 (15.6).
The 18.9 overnight surpasses the previous NFL season-high of 18.6 for the Week 5 Broncos/Cowboys national window on CBS.
Cowboys/Giants finished comfortably ahead of the much-hyped Broncos/Patriots “Sunday Night Football” game. Broncos/Patriots earned a 17.0 overnight on NBC, up 26% from Packers/Giants last year (13.5), up 36% from Steelers/Chiefs in 2011 (12.5), and the network’s second-highest overnight of the season.
Three of NBC’s four highest rated games in the metered markets have involved the Broncos — Colts/Broncos in Week 7 (17.3), Broncos/Patriots Sunday, and Chiefs/Broncos in Week 11 (16.6). Overall, Broncos/Patriots earned the seventh-highest overnight for the NFL on NBC since the network resumed airing games in 2006.
In other Week 12 action, the singleheader window on CBS drew a 11.5 overnight — up 10% from last year (9.5), and down 2% from coverage on FOX featuring Bears/Raiders in 2011 (11.7).
The early doubleheader window on FOX — featuring Panthers/Dolphins in 72% of markets — earned a 9.8 overnight, up 13% from coverage featuring Vikings/Bears last year (8.7), but down 20% from regional action on CBS in 2011 (12.2).
Finally, the 49ers/Washington “Monday Night Football” game drew a 9.1 overnight, up 17% from Panthers/Eagles last year (7.8), but down 9% from Giants/Saints in 2011 (10.0).
(Week 12 overnights from Sports Business Daily, NBC Sports Group Press Box, ESPN)
