TV Ratings Dip For Browns-Bucs
September 2nd, 2015
On Aug. 15, the debut of Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, was quite an event across the Tampa Bay area on WFLA-TV, Ch. 8.
TV-ratings numbers were extremely strong, but the euphoria has not sustained.
Nielsen overnight ratings for Saturday’s Bucs-Browns game on WFLA-TV peaked at a 12.9 rating and 22 share. (“Share” is the percentage of Tampa Bay area TVs on that were tuned to the game.) The preseason opener in Minnesota peaked at a 16.1 rating with a 26 share.
The overall rating for Bucs-Browns was 9.8 (17 share), down from 12.8 (22 share) for Bucs-Vikings.
There are many possible reasons for the ratings drop for Saturday’s game. First, it was a home game in Tampa with about 30,000 Bucs fans attending. Also, the Bucs had just played on Monday night, and the stench of preseason games likely was wearing on fans.
It’s also most likely that thousands of Bay area resident had vowed never to watch Josh McCown play football again.
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:14 am
We all know what is ahead. The novelty of a #1 pick franchise QB will wear off in a New York minute. The team is desperate for WINS. And as beaten down as these fans are, at least if they resemble JBF posters, it’s going to take perhaps a couple of season of wins.
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:30 am
If the team doesn’t show up why should the fans?
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:43 am
The Josh McCown jokes were funny when he sucked for us, but when he comes in to our stadium and beats us up and down the field, the jokes just seem kinda silly. I think anyone one with a brain can see that it wasn’t all McCown. To be honest Winston brought back some old bad memories of McCown last Saturday. Throwing off your back foot into double coverage?? Cmon this isn’t the guy that everyone said was light years ahead of Mariota. Amazing what a decent Oline will do for a quarterback.
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:44 am
@Tony
If the team doesn’t show up why should the fans?
Well if we’re talking about THIS year…that was ONE PS game! They were clearly flat. I could give all the extenuating circumstances..short practice week…taking the Brownies lightly…McCown having his best game in years…diving head first in a PS game..really…clearly McCown wanted that MEANINGLESS game more than we did.
But to answer your question. It’s the NFL where the competition is razor thin…the old saying..”on any given Sunday”. We currently have NO home field advantage…NONE…Pirate ships and cannons cannot replace a sold out screaming stadium. We basically begin every season at a disadvantage.
Trust me I respect the posters who say why waste money on an inferior product. When the Glazers sent all their money to England I agreed and stayed away. All I ask is effort and I get that was missing in ONE PS game the other night. I also ask to be entertained.
And so we all asked for a franchise QB and some respect for Offense so we could be fun to watch.
What did they do with our requests? Selected a franchise QB #1…hire an OC known for his skill at 4 vertical and piling up passing yards…drafted Offensive players including two OL with two 2nd round picks…Smith almost equivalent to a late first rounder given how high we were picking.
The Glazers are spending money…L&L are doing EXACTLY what the fans have wished…if they show up for Tennessee as flat as they did for the PRESEASON game then I’ll be upset with the rest of you. Otherwise it’s all good!!!
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:57 am
Yeah, the Josh trashing lol …looked pretty good behind a decent OL…
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:58 am
McCown winning the starting job in Cleveland and the team high on his play should have told Bucs fans that this wasn’t the same player that was trashed here as an ineffective loser. McCown played as good for the Bucs as the surrounding talent allowed. He who laughs last, laughs best.
September 2nd, 2015 at 10:59 am
never before witnessed a “must win” game like this for an opener, BUT, a loss at the hands of Mariota and things will get really ugly 🙁
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:01 am
If I saw just 1 pass beyond 15 yards I’d jump on the mclown bandwagon too. But he threw his usual 8yard passes. He’s a bum wait and see.
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:03 am
Also the other two preseason games were televised live on national networks (ESPN for one and the other was Monday night). Probably had something to do with it. It also may show that “America’s QB” is in reality more “Tampa and surrounding market’s QB”
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:06 am
If we lose to Mariota, it might be the most demoralizing loss this team has ever had. There might even be riots at one buc.
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:10 am
Josh McCown just proved to Bucs fans, and hopefully, Joe, (but I doubt it) that a QB is only as good as the offensive line in front of him. The Browns line is very good and the Bucs line, last year and this year is flat awful. McCown is an excellent QB and will have a good year in Cleveland. The Bucs line is terrible and Winston is going to pay the price. Lovie Smith has known about the lack of talent on the line and to think adding two rookies was going to improve the situation is outrageous!!!
Joe: don’t let the facts interfere with your opinions!!!
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:15 am
Considering what a mess of a company Nielsens is these days now that they have “outsourced” 90% of the work Americans used to do and are being run and managed by an Indian company that has no clue – I wouldn’t trust the accuracy of their ratings for a second.
That said – who cares – its pre-season. Its not real football. Just dress rehearsals.
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:22 am
@St Pete- I understand your reasoning but this team hasn’t been entertaining since Schiano’s first year (7 wins, top 10 offense) so even though the team did what the fans wanted this franchise is engrained in their losing ways the fans know it. It’s up to the players and coaches to win the fans back. If the Bucs took the Brownies lightly that’s all on the coaches. I’m done with the excuses, this team needs a new mindset and attitude to win games.
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:26 am
@DB55
He’s a bum wait and see.
Amen brother. McCown is not a 2nd or 3rd year player who hasn’t been given every chance. MG8 should be so lucky at to eventually get ALL the chances McCown has enjoyed. He had one DECENT year in Chicago.
He has started more than 50 games..and won 1/3 of them. He is by definition, by fact, by scoreboard a LOSER. If the OL was the end all and be all then Matty Ice must be the greatest QB since Joe Namath!!! Atlanta was one of the few teams with an OL worse than ours last year. Matty Ice didn’t run around like a chicken with his head cut off. He didn’t CHOKE like McCown
McCown has a LONG record. He didn’t stumble into a bad break in Tampa. He has been a bad break for the many teams he’s played. Last year was not a fluke in McCown’s career..it was a continuation.
Even Pettine looked at McCown after that dive for the first down and pointed to his head as if to say…Josh use your freaking brain…it’s the PS and our other QB Johnny Football is out! That may have been the worst decision I’ve seen this preseason.
McCown didn’t suddenly suck because we did….he was a BIG reason WHY we sucked and it’s undeniable!
But we need to get over this obsession with other players. If we play great against the Titans…and Fameis plays well but MM matches him and also plays well and we miss a chance to win the game with a FG attempt sliced..and Tennessee’s kicker cashes in on theirs and we lose…are we all going to say..oh we picked the wrong guy or can we simply say…our special teams needs work and Mariota is ALSO a great QB. Again boys..Fameis and MM being great is not mutually exclusive!! It’s not about Mariota..it’s about our entire TEAM!
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:48 am
“Supersam Says:
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:06 am
There might even be riots at one buc.”
These are the same people who guaranteed Mariota would be picked and that people would be protesting if Jameis were picked. We can see clearly that they have no idea and are simply throwing stuff on the wall to see what sticks.
Do we want the Bucs to win game 1? Of course. Does it actually any indicator of longterm success, or will it cause riots? Do I even need to answer?
September 2nd, 2015 at 11:58 am
Although I was a josh mccown supporter last season….in defense to his bashers the browns had the sead last ranked 32 offense in the league this preseason before saturday night. So I think it means our defense was just that bad…
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Losing the first game of the year at home to the quarterback the front office passed on will ruin our season. There’s no way to sugar coat it. This IS a must win game. For sanity sake of the fans. And for the moral of the players, look we all know from most the fan polls that it was pretty much split 50/50 on who wanted Winston and who wanted Mariota. Winston needs to prove to the 50 percent that wanted Mariota (me included) that our front office made the right choice.
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Tampa Tony Says:
“If the team doesn’t show up why should the fans?”
Welp…I think they are going to only win 4-6 games, yet I’m going to at least 4 games this season.
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Sam…Winston and Mariota will both prove what they have over time. Like in a 3 year span, not week 1. Although I’m sure you’re looking forward to the supposed #1QB vs #2QB match up. I’m not at all, because it’s Mariota vs our defense. The same defense that Josh McCown made look silly in a dress rehearsal for the reg season 3rd preseason game. It’s Winston vs the Titans D as well. So I’ll take nothing from this first game when comparing the two. Even if Winston goes out and blows Winston’s stats away. It will mean nothing to me and vice versa.
I’m letting you and everyone else know this now, so I don’t have a rain of BS falling on my head after Mariota and Winston’s very first NFL game. Somehow I doubt that will matter though if the Titans win.
Hell I predict if the Titans win and Winston looks better than Mariota. The Mariota Clingers will be in here telling us different. Just like the Rose Bowl game.
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:43 pm
@Supersam
50/50 wanted Mariota/Winston? Please, where did this intriguing statistic come from? Last I checked, Winston can’t win the game himself anyway. However, he will play his ass off and do all that he can to help ensure a win. NOT a must win. Must win for who, the fans? Or just the losers on this site? I am fine with a loss, this team is in a rebuilding phase. Have patience. STOP BEING ADHD BUCS FANS.
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Supersam, your posts are so silly you must be a kid. How old are you?
I am guessing maybe around 14 or 15?
If we loose the first game, you and the others who have failed to embrace Winston will have fun making “I told you so” posts for a little while. The reality is that if the Bucs loose that game and a even a few more early, we will all be pissed. That will last until the Bucs start winning. If they loose to the Titans, and win the next three, no one but you and others with your mindset will give a crap about Winston loosing to Mariota. You know why? Because we are Bucs fans and winning is what counts! The preseason loss last Sat. was a team effort. Winston was not on the field when the punt was returned for a TD. Winston was not on the field when the Defense couldn’t stop Josh McCown.
When Winston was on the field, he could have done some things better, but he couldn’t play QB and block the Browns by himself on their all out blitzes. The Winston and Mariota comparisons will last for years, I suspect the Bucs will win the first game, but all is not lost if Mariota wins the first one. Its just one game. Buccaneer fans will be unhappy if we loose. You on the other hand will be happy so you can come on here the next day and write obnoxious posts.
September 2nd, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Loose* lol.
September 2nd, 2015 at 1:13 pm
“Supersam Says:
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Losing the first game of the year at home to the quarterback the front office passed on will ruin our season.”
You should know that you have a formidable future as a Lifetime network programmer. Could you be more dramatic?
Does anyone remember RGIII’s rookie year? It’s plainly obvious that you can’t even predict a player’s future on one season, and there’s people here who are going off of preseason and one game of the regular season.
September 2nd, 2015 at 1:17 pm
That is funny Joe Cool – I can’t live without spell check!
September 2nd, 2015 at 1:19 pm
“Supersam Says:
September 2nd, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Winston needs to prove to the 50 percent that wanted Mariota (me included) ”
I’m convinced you are a teenager now. Winston doesn’t need to prove anything to you, me, or any other person. He needs to follow what his coaches say, study, and continue to stay out of the limelight of the field. The self-important twitter generation that thinks the world owes them answers makes me both laugh and cry at the same time. Get over yourself. You’re not special.
September 2nd, 2015 at 2:13 pm
LWD…oh he’s special alright..
September 2nd, 2015 at 3:28 pm
For the life of me I can’t understand the inability to comprehend that the league is full of talented players. BOTH Fameis and MM are talented rookies. I think they’ll both have good careers.
As long as we win that first game I don’t care if MM’s stat line blows Fameis away.
Can we all at least agree on one thing…Only ONE stat really counts…W-L!!!
September 2nd, 2015 at 4:25 pm
I think the Glazers and the Joes overestimated the unconditional fan support for Winston. There is a contingent of FSU and Buc loyalists that have accepted him unconditionally. For the rest of us, he has an uphill battle to earn the respect of the fans and the community as a whole. He needs to win games, kiss babies, and keep himself out of trouble on an extended basis to win us over.
September 2nd, 2015 at 9:07 pm
I recall a certain Bucs team that lost their third “dress rehearsal” preseason game 40-10 and lost their season opener, at home. That season turned out pretty good.