America, Tampa Loved The Bucs On TV
December 19th, 2016
The Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015 Stanley Cup finals? Pfffft.
That was no Nielsen ratings match for last night’s Bucs-Cowboys game.
Per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, NBC Sports national ratings data was explosive, the second-highest national numbers of the season. Locally, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota market was sixth in the nation for the Bucs-Cowboys with a 23.0 rating. Texas cities, followed by Richmond (Virginia), took the top-5 spots.
For perspective, Game 1 of the Lightning skating for the Stanley Cup last year drew a 17.9 rating, and it was down from there in the series.
Yes, Tampa is still a football town without question.
Joe is most pleased the Bucs were part of such a well-performing game nationally, following poor ratings for their early-October Monday Night Football game at Carolina.
Also, the Bucs covered the spread against the Cowboys last night, pushing them to 9-5 against the spread on the season. Joe doesn’t care about the gambling but knows the networks absolutely consider it when choosing prime time games for the following season.
If the Bucs finish 10-6, it wouldn’t shock Joe to see them get four prime time games next season.
For those wondering, the Tampa Bay TV market is the 11th largest in the nation, 1.86 million “TV homes,” wedged between Houston (10) and Phoenix (12).
December 19th, 2016 at 6:32 pm
I have a sour taste from last night.. Bucs played like poo and could still have won the game. JW3 needed to win it…
December 19th, 2016 at 6:34 pm
Our future is still bright. My original prediction for the year was 9-7, After the second atl game i didn’t think we had a chance to get that. But to fire off 5 straight wins against 4 quality teams is still an awesome, awesome feat.
Losing by 6 points to an 11-2 dallas team is nothing to be ashamed of. Regardless of how we finish, whether we make the play offs or not, i don’t care.
This has been a great year for Tampa Bay Foot ball, I’m all in with Jameis and Dirk.
Suck it haters.
December 19th, 2016 at 6:36 pm
So much for a “small market”.
Seriously, how can anyone say that Tampa is a small market. Hell, combine it with Orlando and you have a market in the top 6 or 7.
December 19th, 2016 at 6:48 pm
Remember last night when Al and Chris brought up how long it had been since the bucs last appeared on SNF. Then, while snickering, mentioned how that 2008 game was the “lowest rated SNF on NBC game ever up to that point”. Seemed like a dis considering how off topic it was. They just made a point to mention
December 19th, 2016 at 6:51 pm
Chris Collingsworth (less) is an annoying, sniveling little weasel and Al Michaels is not that much better.
I have no respect for Collingsworth since he laughed at Kobe Bryant for being proud of playing for the USA in the Olympics.
December 19th, 2016 at 6:53 pm
Of course they don’t mention that that game just happened to be played at the same time as game 7 of the ALCS (right across the Bay no less) between the Rays and a large market team with a LARGE following, the Red Sox…
Real convenient guys.
Geez, get better announcers that don’t look down on the fans.
One reason why ratings are continue to flatline is that many of us can’t stand the announcers.
December 19th, 2016 at 6:53 pm
Glad I could help with the Richmond VA stat, just wish we could have gotten it done last night
December 19th, 2016 at 7:09 pm
Man! I was expecting Shockwave to burn that weak Cowhoes defense. Jameis needs to get this offense rolling or else bye bye wild card for good.
December 19th, 2016 at 7:29 pm
Who cares? No National love for this team when they repeatedly fail on the big stage.
December 19th, 2016 at 7:32 pm
I remember when the host of the JoeBucsFan hour on 620 blew a gasket when Joe, correctly, pointed out that Schiano era preseason games had better ratings than the Lightning in the Stanley Cup finals. The host tried to turn it into a slight against the Lightning. This is the population of the Tampa Bay market deciding what they’d rather watch. TV ratings are numbers. They’re measurable. They’re facts!
December 19th, 2016 at 7:38 pm
It’s becoming harder to watch NFL football simply because of the commercial bombardment. If you timed the plays from snap to whistle, added that up in comparison to ad length totals, the ads are many multiples the time of actual action on the field. The football game is filler for the ads.
December 19th, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Future might be bright, But we got a lotta improvement to go. Had our Bucs truly wanted to make a statement? THey would have whipped Dallas. Don’t know what game you’s were watchin, but the Cowboys Offensive and Defensive lines are far superior than ours. I witnessed a few of our linemen getting tossed around like salads!!!! We fought..just did not have the muscle to get the job done. Jameis took some vicious hits. The good news is. we were not embarrassed….much. Gotta gets some beef in the line fellas.
December 19th, 2016 at 8:30 pm
All content on commercial television is “filler” for ads.
December 19th, 2016 at 8:35 pm
The fact that JW missed some open throws (again) and the O Line could not run block (again) and both lines got beat all night in the trenches …. and they still were close and had a chance to win tells me a ton about this team.
A few linemen on both sides and a number 2 wr and one more DB….. SB contenders next year.
December 19th, 2016 at 8:35 pm
@ I understand your disappointment brother I really do, Last night was a tough loss, in a game we could have won. But I rest easy, after seeing what this team is capable of when it gets on a roll, I know that we are firmly on the right track.
In my mind we are 5-6 pieces away from having a legitimate superbowl caliber team. Beef up our offensive Line at center and right tackle, Beef up our D-line with another stud D Tackle, add in a another legit pass rusher, and a top flight Wide Receiver, possibly 2, and we will be an incredibly dangerous team.
December 19th, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Let’s be dallas with a tan.
Draft fournette who is better then Elliot.
Draft a bad ass wideout
Then we need to sign free agents on o line.’
December 19th, 2016 at 8:38 pm
Go Panthers!!! Down with the REDSKINS!
December 19th, 2016 at 9:10 pm
This team has come a long way. 5 weeks ago the dallas game looked like it would a good ol fashion ash whooping. It turned out to be a closely contested back and forth game. Even the the most devoted buccaneer homer knows this team is not super bowl ready. We have plenty of holes to fill on both sides of the ball. But the way the bucs have competed the last 6 games shows the hard work is starting to pay off. No NFL team is perfect. Every team can use a hefty upgrade at numerous positions. We are close. We don’t need to be perfect, but good enough. I think 1 more off season with free agency and the draft, and we can make a strong push next season. But of course this season is not over yet! Bucs can still make some noise and make a surprise post season appearance. GO BUCS!
December 19th, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Pulling for the Panthers but God, that team sucks. I am starting to appreciate our ability to tackle.
December 19th, 2016 at 9:49 pm
I love the over-achieving players like Brate and Humphries making big plays on the big stage. Kwon Alexander gets a game ball. Grimes, playing like a real Pro.
But c’mon man, the top paid Buccaneer, drafted #3 by Mark Dominik was a total no show on national tv. The stars didn’t show for the Bucs as McCoy and Evans both were non factors in the game.
It’s great that these undrafted free agents shine on Sunday Night Football but the players that are supposed to be your best need to be the best in these most important games.
December 19th, 2016 at 10:15 pm
For those of you still sour from last night. Chill !!
… and that’s coming from someone who is still pissed about being a few missed blocks- and overthrown passes away from a W. I expect nothing but (if not at least their expectations) the best from this team.
Temper your expectations. Rome wasn’t built in a season. Next year we will be raw, and the year after a SB favorite.
Put my name on it
December 19th, 2016 at 10:17 pm
Well, at least the Panthers are helping us so far tonight. Just scored a TD, up against the Redskins 20-9.
December 19th, 2016 at 10:18 pm
Missed opportunity by the Joes not having a live thread for tonight’s game.
December 19th, 2016 at 10:19 pm
Hey Ed, not that I disagree but with Evans you have to see that teams are scheming against him and the offense has changed bc of it.
Now I don’t hold him as gospel, but Collinsworth mentioned us liking to work the middle of the field. We love the slant, and Evans has only been a factor in slants that move the chains – nothing over the top
December 19th, 2016 at 10:19 pm
BTW, what the heck happened to them ? Talk about a hang over, geez.
Cam Newton is completing 53.5% of his passes. That’s it. Back in 1976 that was good but anything other than around 60% or higher is unacceptable.
December 19th, 2016 at 10:41 pm
23-9 Panthers. They had a big time chance to nail them away but just like their entire season they can’t punch it in.
Hell, even we weren’t THIS up and down after the SB win.
December 19th, 2016 at 10:47 pm
Next week is the season. If we win we are in the playoffs as the WC. Detroit will lose to Dallas. I have ran the playoff simulator. If we lose next week, no matter what we do week 17 we cannot get in. Joe you should do an article on this. See for yourself:
http://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine
December 19th, 2016 at 11:00 pm
@ Clint, nah, we can get it. We beat the Panthers and GB loses to Detroit we both finish 9-7 but this team we get the tiebreaker.
Take a look:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine/_/results/400874716~2~400874485~2~400874489~1~400874516~1~400874521~2~400874523~1~400874528~2~400874534~2~400874540~2~400874588~1~400874585~1~400874583~1~400874579~1~400874575~1~400874571~1~400874546~1~400874513~1~400874606~2~400874608~2~400874631~2~400874632~1~400874635~1~400874637~1~400874642~2~400874694~1~400874692~2~400874690~1~400874647~2~400874645~2~400874643~1~400874639~1~400874696~2~400874699~2
December 19th, 2016 at 11:05 pm
BTW Clint, we ONLY win a tiebreaker at 9-7 against GB.
We lose a 9-7 tiebreaker against the Lions.
However, we do win a 10-6 tiebreaker against the Falcons.
December 19th, 2016 at 11:14 pm
Wow. I just watched the refs mark off a PI penalty against the Skins which would have virtually crushed them. Actually marked it off and then picked up the flag. Don’t know if I have ever seen that. The refs are terrible in this league.
December 19th, 2016 at 11:27 pm
Refs suck in this league. It is like keystone cops with them.
December 19th, 2016 at 11:54 pm
Looks like the Panthers will do us a big time favor tonight. Up 26-15 with a minute left.
Will we officially be back as the 6th seed.
December 19th, 2016 at 11:57 pm
Washington lost
December 19th, 2016 at 11:58 pm
I think the Packers have the playoff bid over us but they still play the Lions and the Lions play the Cowboys. Safe to say that if TampaBay wins out they’ll be in the playoffs.
December 20th, 2016 at 12:12 am
Time to win out. Damn, this year has had some monster games. It’ll be a damn close one against the Aints. But I think Jameis cleans up his act and finds a way to get it done.
December 20th, 2016 at 12:19 am
They were playing the Cowboys, any team that plays the Cowboys are going to get big ratings. There are bunch of cowboy fans in tampa which I’m sure also helped the number.
There’s a reason the cowboys are on prime time more than any other team in the nfl.
December 20th, 2016 at 12:24 am
I don’t get it. Everyone has been saying that we have the tie-breaker over the Pack yet they are in the 6th seed now. I realize that if we win out, we should be in but that will be easier said than done. Definitely concerned over playing the Aints in N.O. Jameis needs to get the offense humming in N.O. I don’t anticipate the defense holding them to 11 points again.
December 20th, 2016 at 12:28 am
According to ESPN website we have the tiebreaker over GB based on best win % against common opponents.
December 20th, 2016 at 12:32 am
@LargoBuc …. I think the point of them bringing up the low ratings for the 2008 game was a self-deprecating one for Collinsworth. Apparently he was filling in for Madden that game in the booth so they were trying to make a joke about that being the reason for the low ratings.
Awesome choke job by the Redskins tonight but the flipside is that Carolina looks to be playing better football …. these last two games are going to be tough, nothing given.
December 20th, 2016 at 12:34 am
It’s simple:
Win the next two, we are in.
Win one of the next two we have a 50/50 chance of being in.
Lose the next two – play golf for the next six months.
December 20th, 2016 at 12:36 am
We don’t Ben. I just calculated it and we are both tied at 3-2 against common opponents. The Pack must have us beat on the next tiebreaker which is strength of victory. Whatever it is, we are pretty much guaranteed in if we win these last 2 games. We need to show up in N.O and then finish strong. It could happen.
December 20th, 2016 at 12:50 am
Wouldn’t that be some sh!t if we finished 10-6 along with the packers and lost the tie breaker again?
December 20th, 2016 at 1:27 am
We got wins against conference opponents tiebreaker over the packers, destiny is back in our hands. Let’s go bucs! Show some love for my first post buc nation
December 20th, 2016 at 1:27 am
cmurda …. the fourth tiebreaker strength of victory is actually tied between TB and GB as well. They have the edge on the fifth tiebreaker, strength of schedule.
unbelievable …. if the Pack finish 10-6 then they win the North. We’d be competing then with Detroit for final WC spot.
December 20th, 2016 at 6:58 am
Yeah we lost –so what, they have a way better offensive line that makes it easy for dak/zeke. Anyway, Jameis is developing solid rapport with Adam, Brate and Martino and Shep–Jameis is fun to watch–nobody plays like him, he is all out.
I am hoping for upgrades in 2017 to O-line either via draft or free agency. Linebackers are real good, Noah Spence is good, Hargreaves is good, these are young players that are ours for a long time, this is not our superbowl year but its a comin.
December 20th, 2016 at 9:18 am
more like… america & tampa loves the cowboys… 🙁
December 20th, 2016 at 10:52 am
Ah good point buc2015
December 20th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Series of 7 games, especially the first round. Not going to put big numbers up. Why can’t we love on a couple franchises and stop putting one down? And I know, winning changes everything.