The New England Patriots win over the Pittsburgh Steelers posted a 17.7/30 overnight rating/share per NBC Sports. That ties the record for the NFL Kickoff Game with 2010’s game and is 5% better than last year’s Kickoff game.
| Year | Net | Teams | Overnight Rating |
| 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 |
13.0
|
|
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.
Top ten local markets per NBC:
- Boston 39.5/62
- Pittsburgh 34.5/51
- Providence 34.1/51
- Baltimore 24.4/39
- Richmond 23.9/36
- Norfolk 23.4/37
- Buffalo 23.2/37
- West Palm Beach 22.4/39
- Cleveland 21.7/33
- Denver 21.7/38
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