Bigger numbers could have been expected given the high-profile quarterback matchup, but Chiefs-Saints still put up one of the better NFL ratings this season.
Last Sunday’s NFL national window (Chiefs-Saints) averaged a Nielsen-estimated 12.7 rating and 22.94 million viewers on CBS, the lowest in Week 15 of the season since 2005 and 2006, respectively. Despite the multi-year low, ratings and viewership fell only slightly from last year on FOX (mostly Rams-Cowboys: 13.1, 23.02M).
For the season, the Chiefs’ win tied the third-highest rating on any network and helped CBS to its most-watched doubleheader (19.32M). The first half (mostly 49ers-Cowboys) chipped in an 8.8 (-6%) and 15.43 million (-3%), the network’s best results in the early window this season.
The 49ers-Cowboys game was flexed out of NBC’s Sunday Night Football window. Its replacement, Browns-Giants, averaged an 8.7 (-17%) and 15.61 million (-14%) — the lowest for SNF in Week 15 since 2005 and 2007, respectively. Of NBC’s 16 primetime windows this season, 15 have declined in ratings and 14 have done so in viewership.
While Sunday Night Football continues to decline, Monday Night Football is on something of a hot streak. Steelers-Bengals averaged 12.72 million on ESPN Monday night, up 15% from last year (Colts-Saints: 11.06M) and the fifth-straight MNF game to post an increase. MNF is still down for the season, but its average of 11.61 million is off just 4%.
In other action, FOX averaged an 8.4 and 15.21 million for its singleheader (mostly Seattle-Washington or Eagles-Cardinals) — down 14% in ratings and 9% in viewership from last year on CBS (mostly Texans-Titans or Vikings-Chargers: 9.8, 16.77M).
On Saturday, NFL Network averaged a 2.9 and 5.61 million for Panthers-Packers and a 2.5 and 4.53 million for Bills-Broncos. There were no comparable games in Week 15 last year. Compared to the same Saturday of last year — which coincided with Week 16 — Bills-Broncos fell 55% in ratings and 53% in viewership (from Bills-Patriots: 5.5, 9.60M) and Panthers-Packers 40% and 34% respectively (from Rams-49ers: 4.8, 8.50M).
Keep in mind the Saturday doubleheader aired opposite college football conference championship games, much stronger competition than the low-rated bowl games they would have ordinarily faced.
The full list of 2020 NFL ratings is available here.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.22, ESPN PR 12.22, CBS Sports PR]
