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2021 NFL ratings page

Television ratings and viewership for the 2021 NFL season. Previous NFL TV ratings: Numbers obtained from various sources, including network PR, ShowBuzz Daily and Programming Insider. For the current year (2022), see the main page.

2021 NFL TV ratings

Conference championship games

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late Sun. SF-LAR FOX 23.4 +11% 50.23M +19% 14.2 10.3 17.3
Early Sun. CIN-KC CBS 23.6 +3% 47.85M +2% 12.4 9.1 15.2

Divisional round

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late Sun. BUF-KC CBS 21.7 +20% 42.74M +21% 11.4 8.1 14.0
Early Sun. LAR-TB NBC 19.8 +8% 38.14M +11% 9.5 6.9 11.7
Prime Sat. SF-GB FOX 17.8 +30% 36.92M +41% 9.9 7.1 12.0
Early Sat. CIN-TEN CBS 15.8 +13% 30.75M +16% 7.9 5.7 9.7

Wild Card weekend

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late Sun. SF-DAL CBS,
NICK		 20.7 +26% 41.50M +35% 11.15 8.0 13.8
Early Sun. PHI-TB FOX 16.0 +13% 30.37M +22% 7.6 5.4 9.5
Prime Sun. PIT-KC NBC 14.7 +9% 28.94M +17% 7.9 5.4 9.8
Late Sat. LV-CIN NBC 14.2 +11% 27.70M +16% 7.05 5.1 8.6
Prime Sat. NE-BUF CBS 13.2 +15% 26.37M +23% 7.0 5.1 8.5
Prime Mon. ARIZ-LAR ABC,
ESPN,
ESPN2		 — — 23.15M +15% 5.9 4.2 7.4

Week 18

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late Sat DAL-PHI ABC,
ESPN		 10.6 — 20.21M — 5.2 3.5 6.5
Late DH SF-LAR (80%) FOX 10.3 — 19.31M — 4.6 3.2 5.8
Early Sat KC-DEN ABC,
ESPN		 10.4 — 19.10M — 4.5 3.1 5.6
SNF LAC-LV NBC 9.8 — 17.69M — 4.85 3.2 6.1
Early DH PIT-BAL (82%) CBS 9.1 — 16.86M — 4.1 2.8 5.3
Late DH CAR-TB (57%) CBS 7.8 — 14.17M — 3.4 2.2 4.3
Early DH GB-DET (59%) FOX 7.6 — 13.78M — 3.1 2.1 4.0

Week 17

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH ARIZ-DAL FOX 13.8 +13% 26.79M +16% 6.8 4.9 8.7
Single KC-CIN (45%) CBS 10.0 +36% 18.77M +43% 4.4 3.0 5.6
SNF MIN-GB NBC 9.9 +7% 18.55M +12% 5.0 3.4 6.3
Early DH LAR-BAL (55%) FOX 8.0 +1% 14.82M +6% 3.6 2.4 4.6
MNF CLE-PIT ESPN,
ESPN2		 7.3 — 13.26M — 3.6 2.55 4.6

* FOX and CBS aired competing doubleheaders in Week 17 last season.

Week 16

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Special CLE-GB FOX,
NFLN		 10.8 +22% 28.59M +42% 7.7 6.5 8.8
Late DH PIT-KC (90%) CBS 11.6 -1% 24.16M +9% 5.9 4.4 7.35
SNF WFT-DAL NBC 8.5 -14% 17.28M -6% 4.9 3.6 5.95
Single LAR-MIN (35%);
NYG-PHI (27%)		 FOX 8.1 -4% 16.53M +5% 4.1 3.0 5.1
Early DH BUF-NE (68%) CBS 7.6 +1% 14.97M +11% 3.6 2.6 4.45
Special IND-AZ NFLN 5.3 +23% 12.62M +49% 3.8 3.0 4.4
MNF MIA-NO ESPN 6.5 -20% 12.31M -15% 3.3 2.3 4.0
TNF SF-TEN NFLN 4.2 — 7.90M — 2.3 1.7 2.7

Week 15

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH GB-BAL FOX 11.6 -9% 22.01M -4% 5.2 3.8 6.4
SNF NO-TB NBC 10.1 +16% 18.06M +16% 4.7 3.0 5.7
TNF KC-LAC FOX,
NFLN		 10.0 +32% 17.86M +38% 4.6 3.2 5.7
MNF MIN-CHI ABC,
ESPN		 still to come 15.84M +25% still to come
Special WSH-PHI (69%) FOX still to come 14.90M — still to come
Early DH DAL-NYG (85%) FOX 7.6 -13% 14.06M -9% 3.4 2.2 4.3
Single TEN-PIT (61%) CBS 7.0 -17% 12.92M -15% 3.0 2.1 3.8
Special NE-IND NFLN 3.7 +28% 7.26M +29% 2.0 1.5 2.5
Special
(PPD)		 DEN-CLE NFLN still to come 5.86M +29% 1.6 1.2 2.0

* Last year’s comparable MNF game aired on ESPN alone.

Week 14

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH BUF-TB (84%) CBS 11.6 -5% 21.42M -5% 5.0 3.4 6.4
SNF CHI-GB NBC 10.2 +6% 18.56M +9% 5.0 3.45 6.1
MNF* SF-ARIZ ABC,
ESPN		 8.4 +14% 15.90M +28% still to come
Single DAL-WSH (58%) FOX 8.2 -11% 15.70M -2% 3.9 2.9 4.9
TNF PIT-MIN FOX,
NFLN		 8.0 -1% 14.04M +3% 3.8 2.5 4.8
Early DH LV-KC (70%) CBS 7.0 flat 12.16M -1% 2.9 2.0 3.6

* Last year’s comparable MNF game aired on ESPN alone.

Week 13

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH BAL-PIT (82%) CBS 11.4 +7% 21.11M +10% 4.9 3.4 6.3
SNF DEN-KC NBC 9.7 -1% 17.51M +3% 4.7 3.2 5.9
TNF DAL-NO FOX,
NFLN		 9.3 +16% 16.69M +23% 4.8 3.4 5.9
MNF* NE-BUF ESPN,
ESPN2		 8.3 -1% 14.91M +5% 4.5 3.2 5.6
Single WFT-LV (34%);
TB-ATL (23%);
AZ-CHI (23%)		 FOX 7.5 -11% 13.82M -9% 3.2 2.1 4.2
Early DH LAC-CIN (64%) CBS 7.2 -15% 12.75M -12% 3.0 2.0 3.8

* Last year’s comparable MNF game aired on both ABC and ESPN.

Week 12

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Special LV-DAL CBS 13.1 +10% 37.84M +25% 10.6 8.8 12.1
Special CHI-DET FOX 10.6 flat 26.75M +14% 7.2 5.6 8.5
Late DH LAR-GB (91%) FOX 13.0 +1% 24.66M +7% 6.0 still to come
Special BUF-NO NBC 8.0 -19% 19.38M -7%* 5.7 4.4 6.6
SNF CLE-BAL NBC 8.8 -3% 16.23M -2% 4.5 3.1 5.6
Early DH TB-IND (61%) FOX 8.3 +7% 15.07M +12% 3.7 still to come
Single TEN-NE (52%) CBS 6.5 -24% 11.72M -23% 2.8 still to come
MNF SEA-WFT ESPN 6.1 -9% 10.89M -4% 3.1 2.1 3.9

* Bills-Saints is compared to the previous primetime Thanksgiving game in 2019.

Week 11

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH DAL-KC (93%) FOX 14.4 +14% 28.06M +17% 7.0 4.9 8.8
Early DH GB-MIN (57%) FOX 9.15 +25% 17.28M +36% 4.4 3.0 5.4
SNF PIT-LAC NBC 8.05 -25% 14.55M -26% 3.8 2.4 4.9
TNF NE-ATL FOX
NFLN		 7.7 -9% 13.52M -8% 3.7 2.5 4.65
Single Various CBS 6.0 -25% 11.17M -24% 2.7 1.9 3.5
MNF NYG-TB ESPN,
ESPN2		 6.6 -11% 11.92M -6% 3.5 2.4 4.3

Week 10

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH SEA-GB (92%) CBS 11.95 +12% 22.71M +13% 5.3 3.8 6.8
Single ATL-DAL (50%) FOX 9.1 +56% 17.58M +70% 4.3 3.0 5.6
SNF KC-LV NBC 9.3 +5% 16.74M +6% 4.6 3.0 5.8
TNF BAL-MIA FOX
NFLN		 7.4 +4% 12.92M +6% 3.6 2.4 4.5
Early DH CLE-NE (64%) CBS 7.0 -31% 12.36M -32% 2.9 2.0 3.7
MNF LAR-SF ESPN,
ESPN2		 6.9 +4% 12.25M +7% 3.65 2.5 4.6

Week 9

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH GB-KC (93%) FOX 12.6 +2% 24.37M +7% 6.2 4.45 7.75
Early DH DEN-DAL (57%) FOX 8.15 +41% 15.19M +48% 3.9 2.6 4.8
SNF TEN-LAR NBC 8.1 -15% 14.21M -16% 4.0 2.6 5.0
Single CLE-CIN (43%);
LAC-PHI (28%)		 CBS 7.3 -16% 14.03M -11% 3.5 2.5 4.35
TNF NYJ-IND FOX,
NFLN		 6.7 -11% 11.65M -12% 3.2 2.3 4.0
MNF CHI-PIT ESPN 6.8 +15% 12.10M +18% 3.45 2.45 4.3

Week 8

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH TB-NO (92%) FOX 11.4 -5% 21.29M -7% 5.1 3.5 6.5
TNF GB-ARIZ FOX
NFLN		 11.2 +60% 20.26M +73% 5.6 3.8 6.9
Single PIT-CLE (46%);
NE-LAC (28%)		 CBS 9.6 -5% 17.78M -5% 4.2 2.9 5.4
SNF DAL-MIN NBC 8.7 -9% 15.68M -7% 4.35 2.9 5.6
Early DH SF-CHI (42%);
CAR-ATL (21%)		 FOX 6.5 -5% 11.65M -5% 2.9 2.0 3.6
MNF NYG-KC ESPN,
ESPN2		 7.7 +12% 13.92M +19% 2.9 2.0 3.6

Week 7

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH CHI-TB (90%) CBS 9.3 -25% 17.75M -22% 4.6 3.2 5.8
SNF IND-SF NBC 9.0 +14% 16.11M +13% 4.4 3.1 5.5
Early DH KC-TEN (72%) CBS 8.4 +3% 15.15M +4% 3.7 2.7 4.7
Single WSH-GB (48%);
PHI-LV (20%)		 FOX 8.2 -6% 15.74M -1% 4.0 2.9 5.0
TNF DEN-CLE FOX,
NFLN		 7.3 +24% 12.99M +29% 3.7 2.7 4.6
MNF NO-SEA ESPN,
ESPN2		 7.2 +16% 12.80M +17% 3.7 2.7 4.6

Week 6

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH DAL-NE (80%) CBS 12.1 +2% 23.22M +4% 6.0 4.4 7.5
SNF SEA-PIT NBC 9.0 +27% 16.28M +29% 4.6 3.1 5.7
Early DH KC-WFT (47%);
LAC-BAL (46%)		 CBS 6.9 +2% 12.41M +3% 3.2 2.3 3.9
TNF TB-PHI FOX,
NFLN		 8.0 +12% 14.42M +19% 4.1 2.9 5.1
London MIA-JAX NFLN 4.1 — 7.00M — 1.9 1.4 2.3
MNF BUF-TEN ESPN 6.9 +3% 12.53M +11 4.1 3.1 4.8
Single GB-CHI (50%) FOX still to come*

* FOX singleheader numbers are affected by a Nielsen processing issue and will be reissued on Thursday.

Week 5

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH DAL-NYG (88%) FOX 11.3 -7% 22.05M -4% 6.0 4.6 7.4
SNF BUF-KC NBC 9.55 +14% 17.52M +16% 5.2 3.8 6.3
Early DH GB-CIN (74%) FOX 8.8 +10% 16.45M +16% 4.3 3.1 5.4
Single MIA-TB (30%);
CHI-LV (25%)		 CBS 8.6 +26% 16.39M +31% 4.15 3.05 5.2
TNF LAR-SEA FOX,
NFLN		 8.2 -4% 14.76M +0.4% 4.15 3.05 5.2
MNF IND-BAL ESPN 6.4 +2% 11.33M +6% 3.5 2.4 4.3
London NYJ-ATL NFLN 1.9 — 3.28M — 1.2 0.9 1.4

Week 4

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
SNF TB-NE NBC 14.6 +74% 26.75M +77% 7.4 5.3 9.1
Late DH PIT-GB (90%) CBS 11.6 +17% 22.29M +20% 5.8 4.3 7.2
Single CAR-DAL (38%),
AZ-LAR (19%)		 FOX 9.4 +5% 18.28M +9% 5.1 3.8 6.1
Early DH KC-PHI (61%) CBS 9.4 +69% 17.35M +74% 4.5 3.1 5.5
MNF LV-LAC ESPN,
ESPN2		 7.1 +46% 12.86M +49% 4.0 3.0 4.9
TNF JAX-CIN NFLN 4.5 +41% 8.00M +48% 2.6 1.9 3.1

Week 3

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH TB-LAR (97%) FOX 11.7 -1% 22.60M -1% 6.25 4.55 7.6
SNF GB-SF NBC 10.8 +8% 19.69M +11% 5.6 3.9 6.9
Single LAC-KC (37%),
MIA-LV (20%)		 CBS 7.9 -10% 14.33M -14% 3.9 2.8 4.8
Early DH CHI-CLE (46%),
NO-NE (24%)		 FOX 6.7 +4% 12.63M +8% 3.5 2.5 4.25
TNF CAR-HOU NFLN 4.2 +36% 7.39M +36% 2.3 1.7 2.9
MNF PHI-DAL ESPN,
ESPN2		 8.1 even 14.90M +1% 4.8 3.5 5.9

Week 2

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Late DH DAL-LAC (91%) CBS 12.6 +25% 24.29M +29% 6.75 4.95 8.3
SNF KC-BAL NBC 10.8 +8% 19.81M +12% 6.0 4.3 7.15
Single ATL-TB (25%),
SF-PHI (22%),
LAR-IND (17%)		 FOX 9.6 +7% 18.47M +10% 5.2 4.0 6.0
Early DH LV-PIT (65%) CBS 7.6 +41% 14.18M +45% 3.9 2.8 4.9
MNF DET-GB ESPN,
ESPN2		 7.45 -19% 13.81M -11% 4.6 3.5 5.4
TNF NYG-WFT NFLN 4.1 +8% 7.33M +10% 2.4 1.8 2.8

Week 1

Window Game Net Rtg. +/- Vwrs. +/- A18-49 A18-34 A25-54
Kickoff DAL-TB NBC 13.4 +19% 24.81M +21% 7.6 6.0 9.0
Late DH CLE-KC (85%) CBS 10.0 — 19.54M — 5.3 3.8 6.6
SNF CHI-LAR NBC 9.6 -7% 17.64M -7% 5.4 3.7 6.6
Late DH GB-NO (84%) FOX 8.3 -37%* 16.24M -37%* 4.6 3.5 5.5
MNF BAL-LV ABC,
ESPN,
ESPN2		 8.7 +43% 16.97M +51% 4.3 2.9 5.2
Early DH PIT-BUF (55%) CBS 7.5 +1% 13.93M +3% 3.9 2.9 4.7
Early DH PHI-ATL (50%) FOX 6.0 -17% 11.18M -17* 3.2 2.6 3.8

* FOX national window did not face a competing CBS national window in 2019. Combined, the FOX and CBS national windows drew an 18.0 rating and 35.78 million viewers, both far in excess of last year’s solo FOX telecast (13.2, 25.85M).

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SMW Podcast

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
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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.
logoNielsen updates NBC NFL viewership
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.
logoWNBA Semis
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
logoALDS
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
logoPresidents Cup
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).
logoNASCAR “Big Data”
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
logoDaytona
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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