A tight one in Foxboro found more than 16 million viewers at home for Thursday Night Football.
CBS and NFL Network's simulcast of the TNF matchup -- New England's Chris Jones block a last-second, 58-yard field goal attempt by Nick Folk (pictured) to preserve a 27-25 Patriots' victory over the New York Jets -- averaged a 10.1 rating and 16.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen fast nationals data. The total included 2.9 million from the NFLN side.
Those numbers were up 140% and 137%, respectively, from the 4.2 rating and 6.8 million viewers from last season's corresponding matchup between Seattle and Arizona that aired on NFL Network and stations in the participating clubs' DMAs.
The Oct. 16 deliveries were virtual replicas of the TNF's season averages for the first six simulcasts: a 10.0 rating, up 79% from last year's 5.6, and 16.1 million, also ahead by that rate from 2013's 9 million watchers.
Per usual, CBS's primetime benefited from TNF averaging 14.8 million viewers, a 36% jump from its lineup on Oct. 17, 2013, while registering even more significant demo advances: 78% among adults 18 to 49 (4.8 from 2.7) and 51% against adults 25 to 54 (5.6 from 3.7).
TNF also gave CBS lopsided Nielsen wins against ABC, Fox, and NBC on the night.
