A big-market battle of NFC East rivals scored NBC’s second-largest NFL audience since resuming coverage in 2006.
Sunday’s Eagles/Cowboys game drew a 15.2 final rating and 25.728 million viewers on NBC, up 20% in ratings and 23% in viewership from Week 14 last year (PHI/NYG: 12.7, 20.882 mil), and up 88% and 98%, respectively, from Week 14 in 2008 (WSH/BAL: 8.1, 13.286 mil).
The Eagles’ win ranks as the third-highest rated, second-most viewed regular season NFL telecast on NBC since the network resumed airing games in 2006. Only the Vikings/Saints Kickoff Game (16.5) and Vikings/Packers in Week 7 (15.4) drew better ratings, and only Vikings/Saints drew more viewers (27.485 mil).
This marks the ninth time this season that NBC has topped 20 million viewers for Sunday Night Football, topping last year’s full-season total of seven.
Overall, 28 NFL telecasts have drawn at least 20 million viewers this season, topping last year’s full-season total (26). Of those telecasts, fifteen have topped 25 million, not only surpassing last year (9), but the past two seasons combined (12).
Not surprisingly, Eagles/Cowboys was the top primetime program of the week in ratings, viewership and all key adult and male demographics — including adults 18-49 (9.5).
Through Week 14, NBC is averaging a 13.0 rating and 21.7 million viewers for Sunday Night Football, up 9% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (11.9, 19.7 mil), and up 31% and 35%, respectively, from 2008 (9.9, 16.1 mil).
Ratings/Viewership For Sunday Night Football During 2010 Season
| Date | Window | Game | Net | Rating | vs. ’09 | Viewers (000) | vs. ’09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., 9/9/10 | Kickoff | Vikings 9 | NBC |
16.5
|
29%
|
27,485
|
31%
|
| Saints 14 | |||||||
| Sun., 9/12/10 | SNF | Cowboys 7 | NBC |
15.0
|
19%
|
25,262
|
20%
|
| Washington 13 | |||||||
| Sun., 9/19/10 | SNF | Giants 14 | NBC |
13.8
|
-9%
|
23,100
|
-7%
|
| Colts 38 | |||||||
| Sun., 9/26/10 | SNF | Jets 31 | NBC |
11.3
|
6%
|
18,147
|
4%
|
| Dolphins 23 | |||||||
| Sun., 10/3/10 | SNF | Bears 3 | NBC |
12.5
|
14%
|
20,929
|
14%
|
| Giants 17 | |||||||
| Sun., 10/10/10 | SNF | Eagles 27 | NBC |
10.3
|
6%
|
16,856
|
5%
|
| 49ers 24 | |||||||
| Sun., 10/17/10 | SNF | Colts 27 | NBC |
11.7
|
7%
|
19,115
|
5%
|
| Washington 24 | |||||||
| Sun., 10/24/10 | SNF | Vikings 24 | NBC |
15.4
|
69%
|
25,675
|
71%
|
| Packers 28 | |||||||
| Sun., 10/31/10 | SNF | Steelers 10 | NBC |
10.7
|
—
|
18,106
|
—
|
| Saints 20 | |||||||
| Sun., 11/7/10 | SNF | Cowboys 7 | NBC |
11.6
|
-11%
|
19,368
|
-11%
|
| Packers 45 | |||||||
| Sun., 11/14/10 | SNF |
Patriots 39
|
NBC |
12.8
|
-7%
|
21,182
|
-5%
|
|
Steelers 26
|
|||||||
| Sun., 11/21/10 | SNF |
Giants 17
|
NBC |
13.9
|
31%
|
23,204
|
34%
|
|
Eagles 27
|
|||||||
| Sun., 11/28/10 | SNF |
Chargers 36
|
NBC |
11.4
|
-1%
|
19,100
|
-1%
|
|
Colts 14
|
|||||||
| Sun., 12/4/10 | SNF |
Ravens 10
|
NBC |
13.4
|
7%
|
22,509
|
8%
|
|
Steelers 13
|
|||||||
| Sun., 12/11/10 | SNF |
Eagles 30
|
NBC |
15.2
|
20%
|
25,728
|
23%
|
|
Cowboys 27
|
Though NBC says Sunday’s game drew a 9.8 rating among adults 18-49, multiple sources — TV By The Numbers, Media Life Magazine and pifeedback.com — have the game drawing a 9.5.
(NBC press release from Fang’s Bites; TV By The Numbers)
