Detroit Lions (and nothing else) boost Sunday Night Football ratings

Kirkland Crawford
Detroit Free Press

The NFL has been in a bit of a tailspin when it comes to TV ratings over the last few years.

So what did the league do to try to save their sagging numbers?

Schedule the Detroit Lions for prime time. 

We know, we know. Let's us explain. 

Last night at Ford Field, the Lions beat the New England Patriots – with hardly any marquee players or coaches on that team – on NBC, the league's unofficial top national TV spot. And, how did viewers respond? 

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia leaves the field after the 26-10 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 at Ford Field.

According to Austin Karp of SportsBusiness Daily, the Peacock network drew a 13.6 overnight rating for the game, the best Week 3 number for the league and the network in the time slot since for that week since 2015.

And the game that night? The Lions, again hosting, drew a 13.8, taking on the Denver Broncos, who at the time had one of Eli Manning's older brothers as quarterback.

More:Lions have two future stars in Kerryon Johnson, Kenny Golladay

And sure, the Broncos went on to win the Super Bowl that season, but we all know what America was tuned in for. 

Calvin Johnson's final season in the NFL, right?

This isn't to say the Lions are the complete cure for the NFL. This is the same team that was crushed in the Monday Night Football opener, at home, by the Jets. And TV viewers made like many of the Lions that night and didn't show up, either. The game drew a 7.5 overnight number on ESPN (cable numbers almost always are lower than network TV), and it was down 4 percent from last year.

The Lions aren't scheduled to be the lone national TV game again until the annual Thanksgiving Day game. This year, like last, it will be against the Bears. Detroit's game against the Vikings on the holiday last year pulled in an 11.4 rating – down 12 percent from the same matchup at the same time in 2016.

We'll be watching.