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.
Week 2 Ratings
1. New Orleans (Fox) – 46.2
There’s no real explanation to why the Saints’ game against Cleveland received such a ratings bump from their opener last week against Atlanta. New Orleans remains king of NFL TV ratings.
2. Baltimore (CBS/NFL Net) – 42.9
This ratings increase, however, is somewhat explainable. The Ray Rice controversy plus a Thursday night game meant that people in the club’s home market were going to be especially intrigued by the already rivalry-friendly Steelers matchup.
3. Green Bay (Milwaukee market) (CBS) – 40.4
Bit of a drop for The Pack after a Thursday primetime game to open the season against the Super Bowl champions vs. a late CBS game against the Jets.
4. Denver (CBS) – 38.2
Another team that went from primetime to the late afternoon slot and saw numbers dip.
5. Pittsburgh (CBS/NFL Net) – 37.1
Pittsburgh only saw a slight increase from their Week 1 early afternoon game against Cleveland to the Thursday Night rivalry against the Ravens.
6. Kansas City (CBS) – 36.5
A move from early afternoon to late afternoon clearly got more folks to turn on the Chiefs.
7. Indianapolis (ESPN) – 35.9
Oddly, last week’s Sunday night opener proved a bigger ratings draw than a Monday night game. The power of Peyton in Indianapolis prevails.
8. Buffalo (CBS) – 35.6
Following the purchase of the franchise by Terry Pegula and an opening weekend win, the now 2-0 Bills are clearly gaining in buzz in Buffalo.
9. Seattle (Fox) – 34.7
The champs went from Thursday primetime to late afternoon, and the ratings suffered.
10. Chicago (NBC) – 31.8
11. Cincinnati (Fox) – 31.4
t12. New England (Boston market) (CBS) – 30.8
t12. Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul market) (CBS) – 30.8
It’s a little funny to me when teams that play each other draw the same exact rating. The game was not as close, sadly.
14. Philadelphia (Fox) – 30.0
15. Cleveland (Fox) – 29.5
16. San Diego (Fox) – 28.3
Another team that saw a drop from primetime to a late/regional game.
17. Houston (CBS) – 27.1
One of the biggest bumps of the week came from surprise 2-0 Texans, who went from a Noon local time start to a 3:25 p.m. local start.
18. San Francisco (SF-OAK-SJ market) (NBC) – 27.0
The opening of Levi’s Stadium (AKA The Field of Jeans) drew the highest local rating for a 49ers regular season game in 11 years, with NBC reaping the Sunday night benefits.
19. Carolina (Charlotte market) (Fox) – 25.4
20. Dallas (Fox) – 25.1
The opening day blowout caused a bit of a drop for the Cowboys, who moved from late afternoon to early afternoon in Week 2.
21. Washington (CBS) – 22.6
22. Detroit (Fox) – 22.2
One of the biggest drops in the league from Week 1 to Week 2 came in Detroit. Despite going from primetime to an early afternoon game, the team still had won in Week 1 and has been a pretty solid ratings draw in good and bad times in Motown, so this is a little baffling.
23. Arizona (Phoenix market) (Fox) – 21.9
The Cardinals went from primetime to an early morning local start time on Sunday, which explains their big drop.
24. Tennessee (Nashville market) (Fox) – 21.0
25. Jacksonville (CBS) – 20.5
26. Atlanta (Fox) – 18.7
Atlanta was one of the few teams to remain in their timeslot from last week and see its ratings go way down.
27. Tampa Bay (Fox) – 17.2
This game saw a lengthy delay for lightning, which is usually a welcome sight in Tampa.
28. Miami (CBS) – 16.9
29. NY Giants (Fox) – 14.0
30. NY Jets (CBS) – 13.8
A move from early afternoon to late afternoon and a 1-0 start likely helped the 1-1 Jets.
31. St. Louis (Fox) – 12.7
Again, this game was delayed by lightning.
32. Oakland (CBS) – 9.5
Despite moving from early morning local time to early afternoon, the Raiders fan remains hard to win back.
Averages through Week 2
1. New Orleans – 45.2
2. Green Bay (Milwaukee market) – 42.2
3. Denver – 40.9
4. Seattle – 38.4
5. Indianapolis – 37.5
6. Baltimore – 36.3
7. Pittsburgh – 36.2
8. Kansas City – 33.6
9. Buffalo – 32.5
10. San Diego – 31.5
11. New England (Boston market) – 31.0
12. Chicago – 30.9
13. Cincinnati – 30.8
14. Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul market) – 30.6
15. Philadelphia – 29.6
16. Cleveland – 28.8
17. Dallas – 27.3
18. Carolina (Charlotte market) – 26.9
19. Detroit – 26.4
20. San Francisco (SF-OAK-SJ market) – 25.4
21. Houston – 25.3
22. Arizona (Phoenix market) – 24.5
23. Tennessee (Nashville market) – 22.7
24. Washington – 22.1
25. Atlanta – 21.4
26. Jacksonville – 21.3
27. Tampa Bay – 18.6
28. Miami – 17.4
29. NY Giants – 15.3
30. St. Louis – 13.9
31. NY Jets – 13.1
32. Oakland – 9.8
