FOXBOROUGH, Mass. –The Patriots improved to 7-2 through the first nine games of their 2017 campaign following a resounding 41-16 victory over the Denver Broncos on NBC's nationally-televised Sunday Night Football. The impressive victory was reflected in the local ratings as NBC's broadcast garnered the second-highest rating of the season while once again finishing the week as the top-ranked program in the Boston market.
The 34.7 local household rating was the second-highest household rating of the season, trailing only the much-anticipated Super Bowl LI rematch against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7. Despite an 18-point halftime differential the game delivered a national household rating of 11.5, which is an increase of 20-percent over Week 9's Sunday Night Football matchup between the Oakland Raiders and the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots continue to draw an impressive national audience, capturing three of the top five highest ratings for NBC's primetime coverage of the NFL.
After spending a week of practice together at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, the Patriots will travel to Mexico City next Sunday for a matchup with the Oakland Raiders as part of the NFL's International Series at Estadio Azteca. The game will be broadcast locally on WBZ with Jim Nantz handling play-by-play duties accompanied by color commentary from Tony Romo.
Highest Rated NBC Football Broadcasts of 2017
| GAME | WEEK | DATE | RATING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys vs. Giants | 1 | 9/10/17 | 13.4 |
| **Patriots vs. Falcons** | **7** | **10/22/17** | **12.6** |
| **Patriots vs. Chiefs** | **1** | **9/7/17** | **12.6** |
| Patriots vs. Broncos | **10** | **11/12/17** | **11.5** |
| Packers vs. Falcons | 2 | 9/17/17 | 11.3 |
