NFL ratings down in Week 3 after mass protesting

Last year NFL ratings were down dramatically. That trend seems to be continuing.

CBS’s national games – which featured the Packers’ exciting win over the Bengals and the Chiefs relative blowout of the Chargers – were down 1%.  CBS says their overall game coverage was up 4% compared to last week. Fox’s national game, largely the Giants and Eagles – was down 16%. NBC’s Sunday Night Football registered its lowest preliminary rating since 2006. 

Pregame shows across the board were up, presumably in anticipation of the protests. But overall this is an ominous sign for the NFL, especially since four of its early games came down to the final seconds, and its two most storied quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Arron Rodgers, led thrilling comebacks.