A matchup of the last two Super Bowl champions — and rematch of Super Bowl 52 — delivered the NFL’s highest ratings of the season.
Sunday’s NFL national window (Patriots-Eagles in 93% of markets) averaged a 14.0 rating and 24.89 million viewers on CBS, marking the highest rated of the NFL season. The previous high was a 13.8 for Packers-Cowboys on FOX in Week 5.
It will almost certainly rank as the most-watched game of the season once viewership is adjusted later in the week. It is already virtually even with the current mark of 24.9 million for Packers-Cowboys (a figure that adjusted up from an initial count of 24.6 million).*
In addition to the season-highs, the telecast ranks as the highest rated and most-watched Week 11 NFL window since 2015 on FOX (mostly Packers-Vikings: 15.5, 27.49M).
Regardless of week, it was just the fifth regular season NFL telecast in the past three seasons to average at least a 14.0 rating, compared to 49 in the previous three.
Ratings increased 31% and viewership 35% from last year on FOX (Eagles-Saints: 10.7, 18.38M) and 28% and 31% respectively from 2017 on CBS (mostly Patriots-Raiders: 10.9, 19.03M).
CBS is now averaging 16.83 million viewers for NFL coverage this season (+7%), its highest 11-week average since 2016.
The national window averaged a 6.6 rating in adults 18-49 (+24%). While household ratings hit a season-high, the 6.6 is tied as only the ninth-highest demo rating this season.
Earlier Sunday, regional action featuring Texans-Ravens averaged a 7.7 (-3%) and 12.62 million (-5%). The early doubleheader window has declined in four of the past five weeks. The window averaged a 3.4 in 18-49 (-11%).
* Nielsen’s final national ratings are not in fact ‘final’ and are subject to further adjustment. Generally, this means that the viewership numbers reported on the day after an event will eventually be adjusted up by a few hundred thousand viewers.
[Nielsen estimates from CBS Sports, ShowBuzz Daily 11.19]
