The Bears/Packers rivalry gave NBC a small boost in the ratings on Sunday night.
The Packers’ close win over the Bears drew a 13.4 overnight rating on NBC Sunday, up 3% from a 13.0/22 for Bears/Colts last year, but down 2% from a 13.6/22 for Giants/Cowboys in ’07.
This marks the second-lowest overnight for the season debut of Sunday Night Football since NBC began airing Sunday night games in ’06.
Sunday’s game drew a 34.8/53 in Chicago and a 34.7/54 in Milwaukee. Interestingly, Denver — former home of Bears QB Jay Cutler — was the highest rated non-home market for the game, drawing a 22.1/34.
Bears/Packers drew the second highest overnight of the day for NFL coverage, behind only a 15.0 for Washington/Giants on FOX.
Overall, NFL coverage on NBC, FOX and CBS averaged an 11.5 overnight rating on Sunday, up 4% from an 11.1 last year, but down 2% from an 11.7 in ’07.
