2016 NFL TV Ratings

This is the 2016 NFL ratings page. For 2019 ratings, go to the main page.

Click here to jump to a week: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 13, Week 14, Week 15, Week 16, Week 17, Wild Card weekend, Divisional Round, Conference Championships, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl. Other season ratings are here: 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014.

2016 NFL TV Ratings

DH = Doubleheader; Single = Singleheader
Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- Strm. 18-49
SUPER BOWL
SB51 NE/ATL FOX 45.3 -3% 111.3M -0.5% 1.72M 37.1
PRO BOWL
Pro Bowl AFC/NFC ESPN 4.2 -7% 7.4M -7% 113K 2.6
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Late PIT/NE CBS 24.4 +1% 48.0M +5% — 15.4
Early GB/ATL FOX 25.0 -15% 46.3M -13% 91K —
DIVISIONAL ROUND
Late Sun. GB/DAL FOX 26.1 +11% 48.5M +13% 363K 14.7
Early Sun. PIT/KC NBC 19.8 -6% 37.1M +1% 260K 12.0
Late Sat. HOU/NE CBS 16.0 -15% 29.8M -12% — 9.4
Early Sat SEA/ATL FOX 16.2 -10% 28.7M -9% — —
WILD CARD ROUND
Late Sun. NYG/GB FOX 21.3 -2% 39.3M +1% — —
Early Sun. MIA/PIT CBS 17.5 -17% 29.9M -16% — —
Late Sat. DET/SEA NBC 14.8 -15% 26.9M -14% — 8.4
Early Sat OAK/HOU ABC,
ESPN
14.4 -3% 25.1M -1% 210K —
WEEK SEVENTEEN
SNF GB/DET NBC 13.0 -6% 23.8M -2% — —
Late DH NYG/WSH (76%) FOX 12.3 +3% 22.4M +7% — 7.4
Early DH DAL/PHI (79%) FOX 9.65 +7% 17.0M +13% — —
Early DH MIA/NE (61%) CBS 9.2 -18% 16.6M -11% — —
Late DH Regional action CBS 6.8 -34% 12.1M -31% — —
Week seventeen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports
WEEK SIXTEEN
** TNF aired on NFL Network alone last year
SNF KC/DEN NBC 10.6 +2% 21.4M +20% 81K 6.4
MNF DET/DAL ESPN 10.1 +7% 18.6M +18% 260K 5.8
Early DH GB/MIN (71%) FOX 10.0 +8% 18.4M +13% — —
TNF** NYG/PHI NBC, NFLN 10.6 +194% 17.9M +154% 350K 5.1
Late DH TB/NO (66%) FOX 8.1 -48% 15.4M -44% — —
Special PIT/BAL NFLN 6.5 no gm. 14.8M no gm. — 4.5
Single Regional action CBS 7.7 -25% 14.2M -19% — —
Special CIN/HOU NFLN 3.2 -32% 6.3M -23% — 1.9
Week sixteen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NFL, NBC Sports, ESPN
WEEK FIFTEEN
** TNF aired on NFL Network alone last year
Late DH NE/DEN (83%) CBS 14.3 -2% 25.0M even — —
SNF TB/DAL NBC 13.6 +30% 24.1M +33% — 8.1
Single DET/NYG (48%) FOX 10.8 -26% 18.7M -25% — —
Early DH Regional action CBS 8.8 +28% 15.0M +33% — —
TNF** LA/SEA NBC, NFLN 8.8 +132% 14.7M +144% 321K 4.3
MNF CAR/WSH ESPN 6.8 +1% 11.2M +3% 201K 3.6
Special NYJ/MIA NFLN 2.5 -42% 4.4M -41% — 1.3
Week fifteen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports, ESPN
WEEK FOURTEEN
** TNF aired on NFL Network alone last year
SNF DAL/NYG NBC 14.9 +21% 26.5M +26% 208K 8.7
Late DH SEA/GB (67%) FOX 14.4 -13% 25.3M -13% — —
Single Regional action CBS 11.2 +3% 19.1M +3% — —
TNF** OAK/KC NBC, NFLN 10.5 +91% 17.4M +99% 417K 5.6
MNF BAL/NE ESPN 7.8 +5% 12.9M +12% 253K 4.2
Early DH WSH/PHI (68%) FOX 7.5 -16% 12.3M -19% — —
Week fourteen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports
WEEK THIRTEEN
Late DH NYG/PIT (85%) FOX 14.6 -10% 25.4M -11% — —
TNF DAL/MIN NBC, NFLN 12.8 +16% 21.8M +22% 479K 6.8
Single Regional action CBS 10.8 +6% 18.5M +8% — —
SNF CAR/SEA NBC 10.2 -8% 17.8M -7% — 6.1
Early DH DET/NO (37%) FOX 7.3 -22% 12.2M -21% — —
MNF IND/NYJ ESPN 5.0 -43% 8.1M -43% 157K 2.6
Week thirteen numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports
WEEK TWELVE
Special WSH/DAL FOX 14.5 +1% 35.1M +8% — 11.3
Special MIN/DET CBS 13.0 +6% 27.6M +9% — —
Late DH CAR/OAK (63%) CBS 13.2 -14% 23.5M -12% — 6.9
Special IND/PIT NBC 10.1 -27% 20.9M -25% — 6.9
SNF KC/DEN NBC 10.7 -27% 18.4M -27% — 6.2
Single SEA/TB (39%) FOX 9.8 -20% 16.8M -18% — 5.1
MNF GB/PHI ESPN 7.8 +20% 13.1M +29% 254K 4.2
Early DH Regional action CBS 7.6 +27% 12.8M +31% — 3.6
Week twelve numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider, ESPN, Nielsen
WEEK ELEVEN
** TNF aired on NFL Network alone last year
Late DH PHI/SEA (78%) CBS 13.6 -12% 24.4M -11% — —
SNF GB/WSH NBC 10.8 +1% 18.7M +4% — 6.2
Early DH BAL/DAL (72%) CBS 10.2 +26% 17.6M +28% — —
Single CHI/NYG (30%) FOX 8.4 -19% 14.3M -18% — —
TNF** NO/CAR NBC, NFLN 8.1 +93% 13.3M +101% 305K 4.2
MNF HOU/OAK (Mexico) ESPN 6.9 -22% 11.8M -17% 240K 4.0
Week eleven numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports Group Press Box
WEEK TEN
Late DH DAL/PIT (92%) FOX 16.4 +1% 28.9M +2% — —
SNF NE/SEA NBC 12.7 +11% 22.5M +16% 189K 7.7
Early DH ATL/PHI (44%) FOX 9.4 +11% 15.9M +13% — —
Single Regional action CBS 7.8 -33% 13.2M -33% — —
MNF CIN/NYG ESPN 6.7 -13% 10.7M -12% 234K 3.6
TNF BAL/CLE NFLN 3.5 -27% 5.7M -25% — 2.0
Week ten numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider
WEEK NINE
Late DH IND/GB (87%) CBS 11.7 -18% 20.2M -16% — —
Single DAL/CLE (31%) FOX 11.6 -7% 20.2M -4% — —
SNF DEN/OAK NBC 10.4 -24% 18.3M -20% — 6.6
Early DH Regional action CBS 6.9 -15% 11.3M -14% — —
MNF BUF/SEA ESPN 6.9 -5% 11.3M -2% 241K 3.8
TNF ATL/TB NFLN 3.6 -35% 5.8M -34% — 2.1
Week nine numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider, ESPN
WEEK EIGHT
** TNF aired on CBS last year
Late DH GB/ATL FOX 13.1 -23% 22.7M -23% — —
SNF PHI/DAL NBC 10.2 -22% 18.0M -22% — 6.5
Single Regional action CBS 9.5 +13% 16.2M +15% — —
Early DH SEA/NO (64%) FOX 7.7 -24% 12.8M -23% — —
MNF MIN/CHI ESPN 6.4 -18% 10.5M -16% 199K 3.5
Special WSH/CIN (London) FOX 5.5 +4% 8.7M +4% — —
TNF** JAX/TEN NFLN 3.2 -71% 5.1M -71% — 1.8
Week eight numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider
WEEK SEVEN
** Compared to streaming game last year
Late DH NE/PIT CBS 12.6 -13% 21.7M -11% — —
SNF SEA/AZ NBC 10.2 -16% 17.7M -14% — 6.0
Single MIN/PHI (46%) FOX 10.1 -13% 16.9M -12% — —
TNF GB/CHI CBS, NFLN 8.6 -18% 14.2M -17% — 4.5
Early DH Regional action CBS 7.0 -11% 11.3M -9% — —
MNF HOU/DEN ESPN 6.7 -14% 11.2M -8% 236K 3.7
Special** NYG/LA (London) NFLN 2.4 — 3.7M +125% — —
Week seven numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider
WEEK SIX
Late DH DAL/GB (86%) FOX 15.8 +9% 28.0M +12% — —
Single Regional action CBS 10.2 -4% 17.2M -4% — —
TNF DEN/SD CBS, NFLN 8.7 -6% 14.5M -2% — 4.7
SNF IND/HOU NBC 8.1 -38% 13.6M -40% — 4.9
Early DH PHI/WSH (39%) FOX 7.7 -29% 13.2M -28% — —
MNF NYJ/AZ ESPN 5.2 -40% 8.4M -40% 200K 3.0
Week six numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider
WEEK FIVE
** SNF aired opposite presidential debate
Late DH CIN/DAL (80%) CBS 12.1 -20% 21.3M -18% — —
Single ATL/DEN (43%) FOX 9.4 -14% 16.5M -9% — —
SNF** NYG/GB NBC 9.3 -21% 16.6M -15% — 5.9
Early DH Regional action CBS 9.0 +8% 15.2M +12% — —
TNF AZ/SF CBS, NFLN 7.4 -22% 12.1M -20% — 4.1
MNF TB/CAR ESPN 5.6 -27% 9.1M -26% 214K 3.3
Week five numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider
WEEK FOUR
** TNF aired on CBS last year
Late DH DAL/SF (84%) FOX 13.1 -13% 22.7M -12% — —
SNF KC/PIT NBC 10.3 -27% 18.1M -25% 116K 6.7
Single Regional action CBS 9.4 -2% 16.4M +4% — —
MNF NYG/MIN ESPN 8.0 -11% 13.2M -9% 262K 4.7
Early DH SEA/NYJ (43%) FOX 6.7 -14% 11.2M -13% — —
TNF** MIA/CIN NFLN 4.8 -59% 7.9M -59% — 3.0
Special IND/JAX (London) CBS 4.8 -25% 7.7M -22% — —
Week four numbers from Programming Insider [1], [2], ShowBuzz Daily
WEEK THREE
** MNF aired opposite presidential debate
Late DH PIT/PHI (52%) CBS 12.6 -2% 22.0M -1% — 7.1
SNF CHI/DAL NBC 11.7 -11% 20.6M -7% 125K 7.6
Single WSH/NYG (31%) FOX 11.1 +3% 19.2M +5% — —
TNF HOU/NE CBS, NFLN 10.6 +1% 17.5M +4% 398K 6.1
Early DH Regional action CBS 8.0 -13% 13.1M -13% — —
MNF** ATL/NO ESPN 4.9 -41% 8.0M -40% 209K 3.1
Week three numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider, NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS/NFL Network
WEEK TWO
SNF GB/MIN NBC 12.7 -16% 22.8M -14% 202K 8.2
Late DH IND/DEN (74%) CBS 12.2 -21% 21.4M -21% — 7.0
Single DAL/WSH (36%) FOX 11.0 +12% 19.2M +15% — —
TNF NYJ/BUF CBS, NFLN 9.5 -26% 15.4M -27% 314K 5.4
Early DH Regional action CBS 8.5 -8% 14.4M -6% — —
MNF PHI/CHI ESPN 7.3 -10% 12.1M -3% 295K 4.5
Week two numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS/NFL Network
WEEK ONE
Late DH NYG/DAL (90%) FOX 15.5 +15% 27.5M +18% — —
Kickoff CAR/DEN NBC 14.6 -10% 25.2M -8% 278K 9.4
SNF NE/AZ NBC 13.1 -15% 23.1M -14% 196K 8.4
Single Regional action CBS 9.3 -20% 16.0M -20% — —
Early DH GB/JAX (34%) FOX 9.2 +2% 15.8M +6% — —
MNF PIT/WSH ESPN 7.7 -9% 13.0M -4% 306K 4.8
MNF LA/SF ESPN 6.2 -30% 10.3M -28% 308K 4.2
Week one numbers from ShowBuzz Daily, NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports
NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson joins the pod; plus: CBS' JJ Watt decision and what it means for Troy Aikman
0:000:00
Sports Ratings Tracker
The SMX World Championship Series, including the indoor AMA Supercross Championship and outdoor Pro Motocross Championship, averaged 614,000 viewers on NBC across a Nielsen-measured linear audience and streaming viewership tracked by Adobe Analytics — up 17% from last year.
Nielsen has reprocessed the viewership for NBC’s four NFL games from Week 1-3 of the season. The Patriots-Seahawks Kickoff Game has been updated to 25.2 million, up from an originally-reported 25.1 million. The Week 1 Cowboys-Giants “Sunday Night Football” game has been updated to 25.82 million, up from 25.66 million. Colts-Chiefs the following week has been updated to 24.43 million, up from 24.29 million. Finally, Rams-Broncos in Week 3 has been updated to 20.96 million, up from 20.77 million.
Last Wednesday’s Liberty-Dream WNBA semifinal Game 2 averaged 1.4 million viewers on ESPN, down from Mercury-Lynx in the comparable window last year (1.5M). Last year’s games took place earlier in the calendar and did not face the MLB Postseason. Read more
The MLB American League Division Series was averaging 3.4 million viewers on TNT Sports through Thursday, up 2% from last year’s ALDS on Fox Sports. Last Thursday’s Guardians-White Sox Game 4 averaged 3.8 million opposite NFL “Thursday Night Football,” on par with Brewers-Cubs in the same window last year. Read more
Final round coverage of golf’s Presidents Cup averaged 2.0 million viewers on NBC last Sunday across a Nielsen-measured linear audience (1.1 rating, 1.88M viewers) and streaming viewership tracked by Adobe Analytics — up 37% from the previous edition two years ago and the highest since 2017 (four telecasts).
NASCAR last week resumed reporting the official Nielsen “Big Data + Panel” ratings and viewership figures for its races, a move that coincides with Nielsen having rolled out a modified version of the methodology at the end of last month. The first race following that decision, Darlington over Labor Day weekend, averaged a 1.0 rating and 1.98 million viewers on USA Network — up 6% and 5% respectively from last year (1.0, 1.9M). Read more
NASCAR Cup Series racing from Daytona averaged a 1.7 rating and 3.12 million viewers on NBC a week ago Saturday, per the “Big Data + Panel” methodology that is the official Nielsen currency, and a 1.8 and 3.51 million under the old “panel-only” metric NASCAR now publicizes for its races. Read more

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