With the Bears eliminated from playoff contention, Sunday Night Football ratings approached a season-low in Week 16.
The latest edition of NBC’s Sunday Night Football (Chiefs-Bears) averaged a 9.7 rating and 17.03 million viewers, down 11% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (Chiefs-Seahawks: 10.9, 19.57M), but up 15% and 11% respectively from 2017, when coverage aired on a Saturday night (Vikings-Packers: 8.4, 15.29M).
Kansas City’s win ranks as the third-least watched game on NBC this season and is tied as the second-lowest rated. Chicago has played in two of the network’s bottom three games, with their previous appearance against the Rams averaging a similar 9.7 and 16.85 million. The season-lows are an 8.6 and 14.89 million for Steelers-Chargers in Week 6.
Ratings have now declined for ten of NBC’s 18 NFL windows this season, with viewership down for nine.
SNF averaged a 4.6 rating in adults 18-49 (-15%), tying Steelers-Chargers as the lowest this season. It also drew a season-low 3.1 in adults 18-34 (-21%), matching Packers-Vikings in 2016 as the lowest for SNF in Week 16 since ESPN last held rights in 2005 (Vikings-Ravens: 2.7).
According to the Chicago Tribune, the game had a 22.5 rating in Chicago. Local ratings in Kansas City, and other markets, were not immediately available.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.24, Chicago Tribune 12.23]
