FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The Patriots season-opening 23-21 victory Sunday night on the road versus the Arizona Cardinals kicked off the 2016 campaign. The team's exciting victory resonated with fans across the market, as the NBC broadcast pulled in an impressive rating's haul for the night.Â
NBC's Sunday night primetime broadcast received the second-highest rating for a Patriots season-opening game ever, bested only by 2015's banner-revealing Super Bowl celebration vs. Pittsburgh at Gillette Stadium. The game garnered a 37.6 household rating while receiving a market share of 58, peaking at 9:15 p.m. with a 43.3 rating accompanied by a market share of 60.Â
An average of 1,324,800 viewers tuned in to see the Patriots capture their 12th season-opening victory in the last 13 seasons under head coach Bill Belichick. The Sunday night broadcast was the number one rated program in the Boston market for the past week while also finishing first nationally amongst Sunday night's primetime programs.
The Patriots will host the Miami Dolphins in their 2016 home opener on Sunday, September 18 at 1:00 p.m. The game will be televised locally in Boston on WBZ Channel 4 with Greg Gumbel calling the play-by-play accompanied by color commentary from Trent Green.
HIGHEST-RATED SEASON OPENERS IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
| **Game** | **Date** | **Household Rating** | **Market Share** |
| Patriots vs. Steelers | 9/8/2015 | 39.5 | 64 |
| **Patriots at Cardinals** | **9/11/2016** | **37.6** | **58** |
| Patriots at Dolphins | 9/12/2011 | 37.1 | 56 |
| Patriots vs. Bills | 9/14/2009 | 35.1 | 54 |
