Welcome to AA’s NFL local ratings rankings. Every week, we’ll take a look at which teams have the highest TV ratings in their local markets, presented 1-32 and with commentary to help provide context, enjoy.
Byes: Kansas City, New Orleans
1. Seattle (Fox) – 43.1
Seattle drew about their season average for that crazy game against the Cowboys, but lead the league in local ratings for the second consecutive week.
2. Green Bay (Milwaukee market) (Fox) – 42.6
Just barely in second place came the Packers, who dropped slightly from their Thursday night game the previous week for Aaron Rodgers’ insane comeback against the Dolphins.
3. Buffalo (Fox) – 39.0
The Bills drew their highest ratings of the season for a 1 p.m. ET match-up agains the archival Patriots, despite the fact that their three Fox telecasts have averaged lower ratings than their three CBS telecasts this season.
4. Denver (CBS) – 38.5
The 11 a.m. local start at the Meadowlands actually drew higher ratings than their 2 p.m. ET local start in Phoenix last week (38.3).
5. Indianapolis (CBS/NFL Net) – 37.6
Only their Week 1 showdown with Peyton Manning drew higher ratings than the Thursday nighter against Houston.
6. Cleveland (CBS) – 37.3
The Steelers are the biggest away draw in Cleveland, and that was proven once again. A somewhat competitive and victorious Browns team can’t hurt.
7. Dallas (Fox) – 36.4
Cowboys ratings were floundering a bit to start the season, they were in the 23-25 range in Weeks 2 and 3, but they rebounded when the team looked good again, and the late victory over Seattle hit a season high. Late game against the Giants next week. Can it go higher?
8. Philadelphia (NBC) – 33.1
Another market hitting a season high. How high will the Eagles go with Chip Kelly running the show?
9. Pittsburgh (CBS) – 32.4
While Cleveland hit a season high, Pittsburgh hit a season low for Sunday’s game against the Brownies.
10. Chicago (Fox) – 31.5
Only the Sunday night game against the 49ers drew higher ratings in Chicago this season.
11. Cincinnati (Fox) – 29.9
A season low for the sister kiss with the Panthers in Cincy.
12. Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul market) (Fox) – 29.6
Here’s another season low for a team that’s sort of spinning its wheels on the field.
13. San Diego (CBS) – 29.4
14. New England (Fox) – 28.7
Similar to the Steelers, while their rivals (in this case, Buffalo) drew a season high, the Boston market hit a season low.
15. Houston (CBS/NFL Net) – 27.3
16. Baltimore (CBS) – 25.3
A season low by a pretty wide margin (the previous low was a 28.2 in Week 3) for a blowout over Tampa for the Ravens.
17. Carolina (Charlotte market) (Fox) – 25.2
18. Washington (Fox) – 25.0
Washington’s loss to the Cardinals, interestingly, drew higher ratings than both Thursday and Monday night games that preceded it, despite merely being a late Fox regional game against a non-rival. This was a season high in DC by a pretty solid margin.
19. Detroit (Fox) – 24.9
20. Arizona (Phoenix market) (Fox) – 24.8
21. San Francisco (SF-OAK-SJ market) (ESPN) – 24.1
22. Tennessee (Nashville market) (CBS) – 23.1
23. Jacksonville (CBS) – 22.3
24. Atlanta (Fox) – 20.2
25. Miami (Fox) – 16.3
26. St. Louis (ESPN) – 15.9
27. NY Giants (NBC) – 14.6
28. Tampa Bay (CBS) – 14.3
29. NY Jets (CBS) – 13.3
30. Oakland (CBS) – 11.5
Averages Through Week 6
1. New Orleans – 44.5
2. Green Bay (Milwaukee market) – 42.2
3. Seattle – 41.2
4. Denver – 39.9
5. Kansas City – 37.5
6. Pittsburgh – 35.4
7. Indianapolis – 35.3
8. Buffalo – 35.0
9. Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul market) – 31.9
10. New England (Boston market) – 31.6
11. Cincinnati – 31.5
12. Baltimore – 31.2
13. Cleveland – 30.7
14. Philadelphia – 30.6
15. Chicago – 30.4
16. San Diego – 30.2
17. Dallas – 30.1
18. Houston – 26.9
19. Carolina (Charlotte market) – 25.8
20. Arizona (Phoenix market) – 25.3
21. Detroit – 24.9
22. San Francisco (SF-OAK-SJ market) – 23.4
23. Washington – 22.6
24. Tennessee (Nashville market) – 22.4
t25. Atlanta – 20.9
t25. Jacksonville – 20.9
27. Tampa Bay – 16.8
28. Miami – 16.7
29. St. Louis – 14.8
30. NY Giants – 14.6
31. NY Jets – 12.3
32. Oakland (SF-OAK-SJ market) – 9.9
