With Philadelphia dominating, NFC Championship ratings hit a multi-year low in the metered markets.
Sunday’s Vikings-Eagles NFC Championship Game had a 24.7 overnight rating on FOX, down 11% from Steelers-Patriots in the same window last year (27.6) and down 8% from Cardinals-Panthers in 2016 (26.8).
Compared to last year’s Packers-Falcons NFC Championship, which aired in the early window, overnights fell 10% from a 27.4.
The 24.7 is the lowest for the late conference championship game in just three years, since the Patriots’ blowout of the Colts in 2015 (24.2). It is the lowest for the NFC Championship, regardless of window, since 2009 (Cardinals-Eagles: 24.0).
Philadelphia’s 31-point blowout was in line with the recent norm. It was the third straight NFC Championship decided by at least 23 points, and the fourth straight primetime conference championship game decided by at least 19.
The game had a 54.4 rating in Minneapolis-St. Paul, down 7% from the Vikings’ previous NFC Championship appearance against the Saints in 2010 (58.7). The 54.4 is actually down 2% from the Vikings’ thrilling Divisional Round win over the Saints the previous week (55.5). The blowout, and the possibility that more fans watched at bars or in viewing parties, are likely culprits.
In Philadelphia, the game had a 50.3 — up 14% from the Eagles’ previous title game against the Cardinals in 2009, which aired in the early window (44.3).
[Sun. numbers from Fox Sports/Twitter 1.22]
