For the third time this preseason, meaningless NFL action attracted at least 6% of U.S. television homes.
FOX drew a 6.1 final rating and 10.127 million viewers for Steelers/Broncos on Sunday night, down 6% in ratings and 2% in viewership from Bears/Broncos on NBC last year (6.5, 10.381 mil), but the highest rated NFL preseason game on FOX since at least 2001.
This marks the ninth-highest rated NFL preseason game on any network since 2004.
Three of the ten highest rated preseason games of the past six years have taken place this year, all three on Sunday nights.
Sunday’s telecast ranked as the #4 program of the week on broadcast in household ratings and viewership and the #2 program among adults 18-49 (3.7) — ranking behind only the Emmy Awards in the latter (4.1).
10 Highest Rated NFL Preseason Games Dating Back To 2004
| # | Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon., 8/30/04 | Titans/Cowboys | ABC |
7.6
|
10,963
|
| 2 | Mon., 8/9/04 | Broncos/Washington | ABC |
7.3
|
10,838
|
| 3 | Sun., 8/8/10 | Cowboys/Bengals | NBC |
6.8
|
11,438
|
| 4 | Sun., 8/6/06 | Raiders/Eagles | NBC |
6.8
|
10.560
|
| 5 | Sun., 8/22/10 | Vikings/49ers | NBC |
6.7
|
10,822
|
| 6 | Sun., 8/30/09 | Bears/Broncos | NBC |
6.5
|
10.381
|
| 7 | Mon., 8/22/05 | Cowboys/Seahawks | ABC |
6.4
|
9,714
|
| 8 | Mon., 8/8/05 | Bears/Dolphins | ABC |
6.2
|
9,104
|
| 9 | Sun., 8/29/10 | Steelers/Broncos | FOX |
6.1
|
10,127
|
| 10 | Sun., 8/26/07 | Eagles/Steelers | NBC |
6.0
|
9,201
|
