“The NFL on CBS” snared its best overnight ratings in 15 years for its doubleheader, which finished with “Manning Bowl III,” pitting quarterback brothers Eli Manning and Peyton Manning against each other in the Giants crushing 41-23 loss to Denver.
The loss put Big Blue in an 0-2 hole to start the new football season. Still, the Giants-Denver game averaged a 17.8 rating, which was up nearly 25 percent from last year’s Week 2 doubleheader (Jets-Steelers, Titans-Chargers).
It was also the biggest ratings number for CBS football since the network re-acquired NFL broadcast rights back in 1998 — and was the day’s highest-rated NFL game.
The other games airing Sunday on CBS were Titans vs. Texas, Dolphins vs. Colts, Chargers vs. Eagles, Browns vs. Ravens and Jaguars vs. Raiders.