Fans continue to tune their televisions to NFL games at impressive rates. NFL games were the top-rated program in 22 NFL cities for the television week of September 25-October 1 – including two cities with no NFL teams playing (Kansas City played on Monday night, so the game counts in next week's ratings; New Orleans had a bye). In addition, NFL programming accounted for two of the top four programs in seven NFL cities (including three of the top four in Dallas). NFL games ranked first in spite of tough Olympic prime-time competition and the normally lower overall viewing on Sunday afternoons as compared to prime time.

The five highest local NFL ratings for the week were Milwaukee, 40.3 (Bears at Packers); Denver, 34.7 (Patriots at Broncos); Buffalo, 34.0 (Colts at Bills); Tampa, 34.0 (Buccaneers at Redskins); and Washington, D.C., 31.8 (Buccaneers at Redskins).

Following are the 22 NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of September 25-October 1 (other NFL markets where NFL football was ranked #2 or #3 are not listed):

1. Baltimore @ Cleveland 15.0 rating/ 33 share

2. Hopkins Special-Thurs. 12.8/21

3. Olympic Primetime 12.5/22

1 New England @ Denver 21.5 rating/ 41 share

2 60 Minutes 14.8/23

3 Millionaire Tues. 13.6/20

1 Indy @ Buffalo 34.0 rating/ 65 share

2 Millionaire Tue 13.7/20

3 Millionaire Sun 12.6/17

1 Dallas @ Carolina 15.9 rating/ 35 share

2 Eyewitness News 13.1/27

3 ABC World News 11.8/23

1 Chicago @ Green Bay 20.5 rating / 41 share

2 Olympic Primetime 13.7/24

3 ABC 7 News 13.2/22

1 Dallas @ Carolina 26.3 rating/ 54 share

2 Tampa Bay @ Washington 17.1/32

3 Olympic Primetime 16.9/28

4 MNF Jacksonville @ Indy 13.9/22

1 New England @ Denver 34.7 rating/ 60 share

2 Olympic Primetime 16.7/29

3 60 Minutes 13.9/24

4 MNF Jacksonville @ Indy 13.2/19

1 Minnesota @ Detroit 23.1 rating / 48 share

2 ABC College football (WXYZ) 15.4/37

3 WXYZ - Thrift Mid ABC 15.2/34

1 MNF Jacksonville @ Indy 28.5 rating/ 44 share

2 Indianapolis @ Buffalo 19.4 rating / 42 share

3 Olympics Primetime 15.5/27

1 Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville 23.4 rating/ 45 share

2 WJXT postgame show (college football on CBS) 19.5/35

3 WJXT HM DPT. Football (College football) 16.1/30

1 MNF Jacksonville @ Indy 17.0/27

2 Millionaire Tue 13.8/22

3 King of the Hill 13.6/25

1 Miami @ Cincinnati 17.9 rating / 33 share

2 60 Minutes 13.1/21

3 Olympic Primetime 10.7/18

1 Chicago @ Green Bay 40.3 rating/ 68 share

2 King of the hill 22.4/37

3 Minnesota @ Detroit 16.5 rating/ 39 share

1 Minnesota @ Detroit 31.1 rating /65 share

2 Chicago @ Green Bay 19.1/39

3 Olympic Primetime 15.5/28

1 NY Giants @ Tennessee 20.8 rating / 40 share

2 Millionaire Tues. 15.9/23

3 Olympic primetime 14.1/22

1 MNF Jacksonville @ Indy 17.6/25

2 Eyewitness News 6 16.9/28

3 Tampa Bay @ Washington 16.5/28

1 SNF Atlanta @ Philadelphia 18.7 rating/ 27 share

2 Olympic Primetime 14.8/24

3 ABC World News 14.3/26

1 Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville 31.1 rating/ 59 share

2 Millionaire Tues 16.8/25

3 Steelers postgame (KDKA) 16.6/33

1 San Diego @ St. Louis 25.7 rating/ 55 share

2 Olympic Primetime 17.9/30

3 Ch4 News 10 - 16.0/26

1 Arizona @ San Francisco 19.5 rating/ 44 share

2 Olympic Closing Ceremony 17.6/30

3 Olympic Primetime 16.6/31

1 Tampa Bay @ Washington 34.0 rating/ 56 share

2 King of the Hill 22.0/32

3 Olympic Prime 13.4/23

4 Minnesota @ Detroit 12.7/26

1 Tampa Bay @ Washington 31.8 rating/ 54 share

2 King of the Hill 26.1/40

3 Olympic Primetime 13.9/24