There’s only one player in the NFL who matters right now.
CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network are all giving thanks for Archie Manning’s second son. Especially CBS.
Peyton delivered again Sunday for CBS with the highest ratings since the Oscars (details below). If the network could figure out a way, it would air Sunday’s Denver-Jacksonville game in primetime. “Manning completes a touchdown pass to himself…”
With Fox having the doubleheader window this week, Sunday’s mismatch will mark the first Broncos game that won’t be going national this year. However, it is merely a one-game blip.
Look at the Peyton feast that lies ahead for the networks:
Oct. 20: Manning’s return to Indy on Sunday night. NBC already doing cartwheels.
Oct. 27: Washington at Denver. Doubleheader game on Fox.
Nov. 3: Bye. Will networks run compilation of Manning’s touchdowns instead of games?
Nov. 10: Denver at San Diego. CBS on doubleheader coverage.
Nov. 17: Kansas City at Denver. Fox has doubleheader window that week with San Francisco-New Orleans likely pick. This game, though, will get plenty of attention on CBS.
Nov. 24: Denver at New England on Sunday night. More cartwheels for NBC.
Dec. 12: San Diego at Denver on Thursday night. NFL Network gets to show Manning throwing his 100th touchdown pass of the season.
Ah yes, it should be a good year for the networks, thanks to Manning.
From CBS off of yesterday’s game:
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CBS Sports’ Week 5 coverage of THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Oct. 6, highlighted by the Denver Broncos’ wild, 51-48, win over the Dallas Cowboys earned the highest rating of the NFL season-to-date on any network with an average overnight household rating/share of 18.6/34 in the metered markets.
Yesterday’s game rating/share peaked at 24.4/41 from 7:30-7:45 PM, ET. The 18.6/34 also was an 18% increase from last year (15.7/29; highlighted by Denver-New England; Buffalo-San Francisco; Tennessee-Minnesota).
In addition, the game’s rating/share is the highest-rated program on television in the metered markets since the 2013 Academy Awards (26.1/41; 2/24/13).