National Football League

NFL ratings soar on 1st Sunday after voting

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW YORK (AP) The first Sunday night after the election produced the highest NFL ratings since Week 2, with an average of 22.51 million viewers tuning in for Seattle's 31-24 victory over New England.

NFL ratings have been on the decline this year. One theory has been the election; two presidential debates were held at the same time as prime-time NFL games, and some cable news networks reported soaring numbers in the buildup to last Tuesday's balloting.

The Seahawks-Patriots game, a rematch of the Super Bowl from two seasons ago, drew a 12.7 rating - 11 percent better than last year's Week 10 game.

The second half of the Fox doubleheader, featuring the Cowboys 35-30 win over the Steelers, drew a 17.8 overnight rating average - the highest-rated individual game of the season.

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