The NFL suffered another blow this weekend after ratings for its most watched program, Sunday Night Football, hit a season low according to Deadline – thought metered market results are up year-over-year 12% after last year’s SNF aired one day after the Las Vegas shooting at Mandalay Bay.
In a 26 -14 win on SNF, the Baltimore Ravens are now 3 – 1 this season and the Keystone State team are hung near the bottom of the AFC North. The game in Pittsburgh also saw another type of bottoming out in the ratings for the league and the NFL.
The primetime Week 4 match-up drew a 12.3/21 in metered market results
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Last year’s Week 4 game went on to earn 16.7 million viewers and a 5.8/21 rating among adults 18-49 in the final numbers. Last week’s SNF scored a 6.4/25 in the key demo and 19.5 million sets of eyeballs. –Deadline
Empty seats
Meanwhile, as TV ratings dwindle, stadiums suffered from low attendance this weekend – as photos of thousands of empty seats made their way around Twitter – such as the Bengals vs. the Falcons game (Bengals won 37-36):
ThErE’s So MuCh To Do InSiDe ThE StAdIum ThAtS wHy YoU SeE eMpTy SeAtS pic.twitter.com/NR3YynSh1b
— ⚜Suit Gawd, MPA (@Fresh_Logic) September 30, 2018
Uhhh this is Falcons-Bengals in 2nd Qtr – two teams with winning records pic.twitter.com/lOrGHB5L4Z
— Mark Muntel (@MarkMuntel) September 30, 2018
The Indianapolis Colts also failed to draw much of a crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium for their 37-34 loss to the Houston Texans.
This is midway thru the 3rd quarter. As much frustration as this young team brings, it’s sad to see this many empty seats. I’m pretty ashamed of #ColtNation today. Yea horrible game, but these guys still need our support. #Colts pic.twitter.com/56nELMBfj3
— Horse Shoe (@4theShoe) September 30, 2018
More #batin material for some of my newest followers #HOUvsIND RT @Rick_Olie_Quote: @[me] colts fans FED UP #ricolie #ricoliequotes #starwars we didn’t hit it’! pic.twitter.com/hfGqluxq9c
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) September 30, 2018
The LA Chargers 29-27 win over the 49ers at StubHub stadium drew a similarly sparse crowd of mostly 49ers fans:
Decidedly pro-49ers crowd here at StubHub Center, with chants of DE-FENSE! Not much blue in the stadium today. pic.twitter.com/04E1GLHivX
— Eric Williams (@eric_d_williams) September 30, 2018
Time for another game of “Spot the Los Angeles Chargers fans in an image of a Los Angeles Chargers home game” pic.twitter.com/9g1t7cBMeF
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 30, 2018
The Cowboys didn’t fare much better in their 26-24 win over the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium:
Fap material for my MAGA-inclined followers #DETvsDAL #NFL RT @mdixonair: Kickoff in Dallas, with two or three seats available. @[me] pic.twitter.com/6J890oFPoz
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) September 30, 2018
(h/t Warner Todd Huston @ Breitbart)
Lastly – we come to the matter of the Packers use of a “creative” American flag which drew harsh rebuke over Twitter:
The #GreenBayPackers used this for the #American flag in pregame festivities! I guess it’s not enough to disrespect the flag by kneeling now the @NFL allows a team to completely reconstruct our national flag! Reason enough to #BoycottTheNFL! @RealJamesWoods @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/xSln7G2qgV
— John Cremeans (@JCremeans) September 30, 2018