And here are the NFL Week 1 ratings numbers for 2022...

Sports Media Watch is the source...

Monday Night:  Dualcast and a Manningcast, so ESPN/2/ABC all got involved in this one.

11.1 rating, 19.84 million viewers.

Best Week 1 game since 2000!!!  Now, that it was on five networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, the online ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes all carried the first Monday Mass of the year) cannot be underestimated here.

In fact, it was the highest MNF game at all since 2009, third all-time on the ESPN MNF watch, behind two 2009 games (a Tom Brady game against the Saints, and Brett Favre returning to Green Bay!).

It's a 1/6 increase over last year's MNF doubleheader.  This week, a staggered doubleheader on the ESPN/ABC networks on Monday.  One game at 7:15 Eastern, the other at 8:30!

Sunday Night:  Buccaneers/Cowboys delivered as expected.  Even with a completely lackluster game and a blowout win for the Tom Bradys and the TB12 drug program, the game still drew 23.3 million viewers for NBC.  That's about a 1/3 increase in viewership over last year's Week 1 in SNF.

Sunday National (FOX, featuring Packers-Vikings):  9.2 rating, 18 1/2 million viewers.  Up 10% ratings and 12% viewers over last year.

Sunday Regional (FOX, featuring Bears-49ers):  6.4 rating, 12.15 million viewers, and that's 7% up in both counts over last year.

Sunday National (CBS, featuring Chiefs-Cardinals):  8.3 rating, 16.62 million viewers, but that was down 17% ratings, 16% viewers from last year.

Sunday Regional (CBS, featuring Steelers-Bengals):  The chicanery of Roger Goodell worked!!  8.7 rating, 17.39 million viewers, up 16% ratings, 21% viewers and the best CBS Regional window for a Week 1 since 1998.

Thursday Night Opener final numbers:  10.8 rating, 19.94 million viewers on the TV, another 1.75 million on streaming).  About a 10% drop in both numbers.

So maybe pushing Buffalo and Arizona ISN'T such a good idea????