Lions victory over Patriots helps NFL ratings continue resurgence

After last year’s ratings dip, the NFL’s audience figures continue to show signs of a resurgence following week 3 of the season.

On Sunday afternoon, the Cowboys-Seahawks match on Fox earned a 15.3 overnight rating, representing an 11-per-cent rise from the equivalent game last year on CBS.

Meanwhile, NBC’s Sunday Night Football game (the Patriots’ 26-10 loss to the Lions) scored a 13.6 overnight, a 17-per-cent jump year on year.

The earlier games fared less well, partly down to the attraction of Tiger Woods’ long-awaited run at his first PGA Tour title victory since 2013.

It hasn’t been completely plain sailing but NFL ratings are up 0.7 per cent for the season to date, according to Nielsen, indicating the league may have finally turned a corner following a ratings crisis last year.