Viewership dropped by double-digits for the preseason debut of the NFL’s #1 overall pick.
Saturday’s Buccaneers/Vikings NFL preseason game drew nearly 1.8 million viewers on NFL Network, down 37% from Browns/Lions last year and down 3% from Giants/Steelers in 2013 (1.83M to 1.78M). Last year’s game, which marked the NFL debut of Browns QB Johnny Manziel, was the most-watched preseason telecast ever on NFL Network.
The telecast drew a larger audience than Titans/Falcons the previous night, which featured the debut of the #2 overall pick (1.4M). That game was down 3% from last year.
In other preseason action, Colts/Eagles drew more than 1.8 million viewers Sunday afternoon — the second-largest audience of the preseason on NFL Network (six telecasts). Only Thursday’s Packers/Patriots game drew a larger audience (2.4M). There was no comparable telecast last year.
