NFL Racks Up Record TV Ratings For Week 1

by srr50 on Sep 14, 2010 8:59 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

When negotiators for the NFL players and owners get together this off-season to work out a new contract, they need to be put in a locked in a room with nothing to read but the Nielsen ratings from this season. Looking at the massive TV numbers for their game might actually knock some sense into the heads on both sides.

Week 1 certainly points that way as three different networks saw record highs for the opening week of action.

The Sunday afternoon matchup of Green Bay vs. Philadelphia on Fox drew the largest week 1 audience ever for the Network. Over 28 million viewers tuned in to see the Packers 27-20 win over the Eagles.

Green Bay's win over Mike Vick and the Eagles drew just less than 2 million viewers than tuned in to watch the BCS Championship game between Alabama and Texas.

Because of U.S. Open Tennis, CBS only had NFL football in the early afternoon window on Sunday. Still the New England Patriots win over Cincinnati drew over 15 million viewers.

NBC saw its Thursday-Sunday night NFL combo blow the doors off the ratings of past years. The Saints win over Minnesota on Thursday night had an 18 rating with 27.5 million viewers.

Then on Sunday night the Cowboys-Redskins game was another ratings winner.

Over 25 million viewers tuned in to watch Alex Barron hold former Longhorn Brian Orakpo on the last play of the game.

Meanwhile the overnight ratings for ESPN's Monday Night doubleheader show antother record night. Baltimore's defensive struggle over the New York Jets produced 9.4 rating and 15.4 million viewers -- while the nightcap Kansas City-San Diego contest drew 11.8 million fans.

And when the two sides finally do start serious negotiations, TV ratings like this will be reason #1 why the owners will push for an 18-game regular season.

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Comments

The NFL’s choice of matchups for opening week was absolutely perfect. Pretty much everything about the NFL from an NFL fan’s standpoint is perfect right now(unless you live in Detroit). They might just kill the Golden Goose when they try to push for an 18-game season however.

by trkhorn on Sep 14, 2010 11:29 PM CDT reply actions

18 game season = even more injuries to key players.

Say goodbye to the ‘workhorse’ running back (or at least the handful that remain) and any player lasting in the league more than a few seasons.

However, if the 18 game season is paired with rule changes that limit a defensive players ability to treat their body like a projectile to cause fumbles and incomplete passes, then we have a chance (doesn’t that sound like fun – the fan loses either way)!

by uthookem on Sep 14, 2010 11:51 PM CDT reply actions

That Ravens-Jets game was just atrocious television. I enjoy a good defensive struggle as much as anyone, but by the end of that slugfest, I was wishing for those 3+ hours of my life back.

I find most NFL football to be rather boring, particularly relative to the greatness that is college football. But obviously I’m in a small (and shrinking) minority.

by gazmorida on Sep 15, 2010 6:34 AM CDT reply actions

I’m about 80-20 college football. The sequence of TD-commercial-kickoff-commercial-game loses me every time.

by Eskimohorn on Sep 15, 2010 9:34 AM CDT reply actions

gazmorida: I’m there with you. NFL offenses don’t have enough variation for me. Fewer Cinderella stories, fewer breakout players, less turnover. I like the college game because it’s always a new story year to year.

by TXinDC on Sep 15, 2010 10:32 AM CDT reply actions

Anyone else surprised that of all the games mentioned by srr50 that the Eagles – Packers had the most viewers? Is that simply a result of being unopposed in a good time slot?

by RF on Sep 15, 2010 12:00 PM CDT reply actions

Eskimo-
i used to feel the same way until my roommates forked over the extra cash for NFL network Redzone coverage. nothing but highlights and interesting matchups. brilliant.

by las pistolas on Sep 15, 2010 12:23 PM CDT reply actions

I’m nearly always in favor of more football, but I think the 18-game schedule is a bad idea. With all of the recent talk on the ramifications of concussions, it’s hard to fathom the players union going along with this. The players are already in an unfavorable position with the frequency of debilitating injuries and the one-sided nature of NFL contracts. Now they’re going to reduce rookie salaries and make them play more games? I just don’t get why the NFLPA would go for it.

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