Welcome to AA’s NFL local ratings rankings. Every week, we’ll take a look at which teams has the highest TV ratings in their local markets, presented 1-32 and with commentary to help provide context, enjoy.
Byes: Miami, Oakland
1. Seattle (ESPN) – 45.2
A new #1 in these rankings is even rarer than a change atop the college football polls, so this counts as biggish news. The Seahawks reaching a season high for MNF, and not their home opener or their overtime thriller against the Broncos, is kind of legitimately surprising.
2. Green Bay (Milwaukee market) (CBS/NFL Net) – 43.4
You’ll see a variation on this sentence a lot in this week’s rankings: the Packers’ ratings for their Thursday showdown with the Vikings was their highest rating in Milwaukee since the team’s season opener.
3. Kansas City (CBS) – 41.3
The Chiefs even slightly outdrew the Royals on Sunday, who got a 33.3 rating for their Game 3 clincher over the Angels on TBS.
4. New Orleans (Fox) – 38.6
Our usual #1 drops for an overtime clash against division rival Tampa Bay, which is a bit surprising.
5. Denver (Fox) – 38.3
Not quite a season low, but a regional Sunday game against the Cardinals clearly had less appeal to Bronco fans than usual.
6. New England (Boston market) (NBC) – 35.9
A season high for the once-struggling Patriots for their Sunday night blowout over the Bengals. Not only a season high, but it blew away the previous topper, a 33.0 in Week 3.
7. Pittsburgh (CBS) – 35.9
8. Cincinnati (NBC) – 35.6
Despite being handily taken care of by the Patriots, the Bengals drew a season high rating in Cincinnati
9. Buffalo (Fox) – 34.6
10. Indianapolis (CBS) – 34.3
11. Houston (CBS) – 32.6
I predicted in this space last week that the Texans would hit a season high for a game against the Cowboys, and sure enough, they blew away their previous apex (A 27.6 last week).
12. Baltimore (CBS) – 31.3
13. Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul market) – (CBS/NFLN) – 31.2
14. Dallas (CBS) – 30.8
15. San Diego (CBS) – 30.3
Both the Cowboys and Chargers drew their highest ratings since Week 1 for CBS games this week.
16. Cleveland (CBS) – 29.1
t17. Philadelphia (Fox) – 28.5
t17. Chicago (Fox) – 28.5
Both Philly and Chicago’s numbers were season lows.
19. Arizona (Phoenix market) (Fox) – 27.7
Meanwhile, Arizona hit a season high for their game against Peyton Manning and the Broncos.
20. Detroit (Fox) – 25.5
Despite a lot of people likely mixing the Lions game with the Tigers playoff game on Sunday, the Lions game drew the market’s highest ratings since Week 1.
21. Tennessee (Nashville market) (CBS) – 24.6
Inexplicably, the Titans hilarious loss to the Brownies was a season high in Nashville.
22. Washington – 23.4
The Super Bowl champions brought a season high to the DC market, which is interesting, considering Washington might already be out of contention and there was competition from the Nationals earlier in the evening.
23. San Francisco (SF-OAK-SJ market) (CBS) – 22.9
t24. Carolina (Charlotte market) (Fox) – 22.7
t24. Jacksonville (CBS) – 22.7
These two expansion brothers tied, though the rating was a season high for the Jaguars and a season low for the Panthers.
26. Atlanta (Fox) – 18.4
Season low in Atlanta for their listless loss to the Giants.
27. Tampa Bay (Fox) – 17.3
28. NY Giants (Fox) – 15.5
The Giants drew their highest ratings in New York since Week 1.
29. St. Louis (Fox) – 12.7
This only ties for a season low in the Gateway City.
30. NY Jets (CBS) – 12.3
The less said about the Jets game last Sunday, the better.
Averages through Week 5
1. New Orleans – 44.5
2. Green Bay (Milwaukee market) – 42.1
3. Seattle – 40.8
4. Denver – 40.2
5. Kansas City – 37.5
6. Pittsburgh – 36.0
7. Indianapolis – 34.8
8. Buffalo – 34.2
t9. Baltimore – 32.4
t9. Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul market) – 32.4
11. New England (Boston market) – 32.2
12. Cincinnati – 31.9
13. San Diego – 30.4
14. Chicago – 30.2
15. Philadelphia – 30.1
16. Cleveland – 29.0
17. Dallas – 28.9
18. Houston – 26.9
19. Carolina (Charlotte market) – 25.9
20. Arizona (Phoenix market) – 25.4
21. Detroit – 25.0
22. San Francisco (SF-OAK-SJ market) – 23.3
23. Tennessee (Nashville market) – 22.3
24. Washington – 22.1
25. Atlanta – 21.1
26. Jacksonville – 20.6
27. Tampa Bay – 17.1
28. Miami – 16.8
29. NY Giants – 14.7
30. St. Louis – 14.5
31. NY Jets – 12.1
32. Oakland (SF-OAK-SJ market) – 9.6
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