The Denver Broncos win over the Carolina Panthers in the NFL Kickoff game averaged a 16.5/29 overnight household rating/share, down 6.7 percent from the 17.7 overnight for Steelers-Patriots last year that tied a high and the lowest since 2013.
Top local markets:
Denver 46.9/74
Charlotte 33.2/52
Greensboro 27.1/42
New Orleans 24.1/35
Raleigh 22.7/37
Albuquerque 21.5/36
Greenville 21.2/34
Indy 21.0/36
Norfolk 20.7/34
Richmond 20.3/33
Kickoff game overnight ratings 2002-2016:
| Year | Net | Teams | Overnight Rating |
| 2016 | NBC | Panthers-Broncos | 16.5 |
| 2015 | NBC | Steelers-Patriots | 17.7 |
| 2014 | NBC | Packers-Seahawks | 16.8 |
| 2013 | NBC | Ravens-Broncos | 16.2 |
| 2012 | NBC* | Cowboys-Giants | 16.5 |
| 2011 | NBC | Saints-Packers | 17.2 |
| 2010 | NBC | Vikings-Saints | 17.7 |
| 2009 | NBC | Titans-Steelers | 13.8 |
| 2008 | NBC** | Redskins-Giants | 10.1 |
| 2007 | NBC | Saints-Colts | 13 |
| 2006 | NBC | Dolphins-Steelers | 13.5 |
| 2005 | ABC | Raiders-Patriots | 13.1 |
| 2004 | ABC | Colts-Patriots | 12.6 |
| 2003 | ABC | Jets-Redskins | 14.5 |
| 2002 | ESPN | 49ers-Giants | 12.7 |
*Game aired on a Wednesday to accommodate Democratic convention
**Game started at 7pm to accommodate Republican convention.
Overnight household rating = the live+same day DVR overnight metered-market household rating from the top 56 Nielsen television markets. The 56 markets (out of 210 total) account for about 70% of the US TV-viewing population. The overnight household rating is the percentage of the households that were tuned-in in those market