NBC's Cowboys-Redskins Game Delivers Highest Overnights in SNF History

Last night's Cowboys-Redskins game on Sunday Night Football is the highest-rated NFL regular-season primetime game ever on NBC, and the highest-rated NFL regular-season primetime game on ANY network in 15 years, according to overnight data released today by The Nielsen Company. The game also generated the best overnight rating for any Cowboys-Redskins primetime matchup in 19 years. The Washington D.C. market had its best rating ever for a primetime NFL game.

Sunday's game on NBC, in which the Redskins defeated the Cowboys, 28-18, to win the NFC East, drew an 18.3 overnight rating and a 30 share, seven percent higher than last year's Week 17 game (Cowboys-Giants 17.1/27), which was also a win-and-in game to determine the winner of the NFC East. Last night's game topped the previous-best NFL regular-season primetime overnight on NBC (18.0/29 for the 2012 Week 1 matchup between the Steelers and Broncos).

Other Ratings Notes:

The Washington D.C market has its best overnight rating (44.6/68) for a regular-season primetime game in the history of Nielsen People Meters (since 1987), topping the previous high of 43.0/63 for Cowboys-Redskins, Sept. 6, 1993 on ABC).
Best overnight rating for any regular-season primetime game on ANY network in 15 years (Broncos-49ers, 19.3/30, Dec. 15, 1997 on ABC).
Best overnight rating for an NFL primetime regular-season final game in 18 years (19.6/33 for 49ers-Vikings, Dec. 26, 1994 on ABC).

Best overnight for a Cowboys-Redskins primetime matchup in 19 years (20.7/34 on Sept 6, 1993 on ABC).

NOTE: Official national ratings and viewership will be available on Thursday.

BEST OVERNIGHT NFL REGULAR-SEASON PRIMETIME GAMES ON NBC:

1. 18.3/30

Cowboys-Redskins, 12/30/12

2. 18.0/29

Steelers- Broncos, 9/9/12

3. 17.7/28

Vikings-Saints, 9/9/10*

4. 17.2/28

Saints-Packers, 9/8/11*

5. 17.1/27

Cowboys-Giants, 1/1/12

6. 16.9/27

Cowboys-Jets, 9/11/11

T7. 16.5/27

Giants-Cowboys, 9/20/09

T7. 16.5/26

Cowboys-Giants, 9/5/12

T7. 16.5/25

Eagles-Cowboys, 12/12/10

10. 16.4/26

Cowboys-Redskins, 9/12/10

* NFL Kickoff Games

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR COWBOYS-REDSKINS:

1. Washington D.C.

44.6/68

2. Richmond

42.8/60

3. Norfolk

37.1/53

4. Dallas

36.9/55

T5. San Antonio

28.4/44

T5. Austin

28.4/48

7. Albuquerque

27.6/41

8. Baltimore

23.9/35

T9. Greensboro

23.6/35

T9. New Orleans

23.6/32

Follow NBC Sports PR on Twitter @NBCSportsPR
Follow "Sunday Night Football" on Twitter @SNFonNBC
Follow NBC SportsTalk on Twitter @NBCSportsTalk
Become a fan of "Sunday Night Football" on Facebook at: facebook.com/snfonnbc

To post a comment, you must register and login.