NFL / Wikipedia Commons
The NFL rest the king of television . In 2024,93 of the top 100 broadcastswere NFL game . The upcomingSuper Bowl 2024is expected to be the most - watched program of 2024 . No other television show can compete with the NFL ’s ratings , which explains why broadcast networks preserve to give astronomical fee to programme games .
prospect are only one way to measure the viewership of the Super Bowl . Nielsen ratingsdetermine the percentage of homes watching the Super Bowl out of the entire amount of homes in the Nielsen macrocosm . Some of the highest - scab Super Bowls happen many decades ago when the Nielsen universe was humble . The highest - rated Super Bowl occurred in the early 1980s . Below are the highest - rated Super Bowls rank from No . 10 to No . 1 .
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10. Super Bowl XVIII (1984), Super Bowl XIX (1985), Super Bowl XLVII (2013) – 46.4
Three Super Bowls – XVIII , XIX , and XLVI – all registered a 46.4 rating . The first two were blowouts . The Los Angeles Raiders command the Washington Redskins by a score of 38 - 9 in Super Bowl XVIII . Raiders running back Marcus Allen ran for a 74 - M touchdown , a rush book that stood for over 20 years until Pittsburgh Steelers Willie Parker skitter for a 75 - yard touchdown in Super Bowl XL . The following time of year , the San Francisco 49ers , behind a then - record 537 total yards , cruise to a 38 - 16 win over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX .
Super Bowl XLVII is better experience by two moniker : The Har - bowl and the Blackout Bowl . It was the first game in Super Bowl history to have two brothers – John and Jim Harbaugh – train against each other as heading coach-and-four of the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers , respectively . There was also a power outage in the third quarter , leading to a 34 - minute delay . The Ravens make headway the plot 34 - 31 .
9. Super Bowl 50 (2016) – 46.6
There ’s a phrase , “ offense wins game , but vindication wins championships . ” This verbalism perfectly describesSuper Bowl 50between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers . Denver jumped out to a 10 - 0 lead in the first one-fourth and never look back , win 24 - 10 to capture the enfranchisement ’s third Super Bowl claim .
Denver ’s defense choke Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers offense the total night . The Broncos register seven sacks and drive four upset . Denver ’s Von Miller became the fourth line backer to bring home the bacon Super Bowl MVP . Miller had six tackle and two - and - a - one-half sacks in the win . The justificatory battle did not discourage viewership , with Super Bowl 50 transcription a 46.6 rating .
8. Super Bowl XLVIII (2014) – 46.7
The Super Bowl is typically played inside a dome or outdoors in a warm climate . that was not the case with Super Bowl XLVIII , as the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos face off at chilly MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford , New Jersey . While attendees may have been cold in the stadium , fans at house stay quick and look out the plot , chair to a 46.7 rating .
Not every Super Bowl can be an insistent classic . The Seahawks defense tally a safety on the first play of the biz , which became a mark of things to get . Seattle ’s defense shut down Denver ’s high - flying criminal offence on its elbow room to a dominant 43 - 8 triumph and the lone Super Bowl in Seahawks ’ story .
7. Super Bowl XLVI (2012) – 47.0
In 2008 , the New England Patriots were chasing paragon as they attempt to become the first 19 - 0 wizard . However , the Giants had other plans as New York turn over the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII by a sexual conquest of 17 - 14 . As lot would have it , the Giants and Patriots would meet again in Super Bowl XLVI , which describe a 47.0 rating .
Even without an undefeated season , the Patriots jump at the chance to revenge their Super Bowl departure four age prior . However , the plaguy Giants arise to the occasion , defeat the Patriots 21 - 17.Eli Manningwas named Super Bowl MVP for the second time after completing 30 of 40 crack for one touchdown and zero interception .
6. Super Bowl XIII (1979) – 47.1
In 1979 , the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers had already established themselves as two of the premier franchises in the NFL . The Cowboys had already won two Super Bowls , including Super Bowl XII . The Steelers were in the eye of the famous “ Steel Curtain ” dynasty as they attempt to win their third Super Bowl in five seasons .
The wizard aligned in Super Bowl XIII as the Cowboys and Steelers met in the Miami Orange Bowl . The game was terrific thanks to the play of future Hall of Fame quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach , who combined to throw for 546 yards , seven touchdowns , and two interception . Pittsburgh narrowly edged out Dallas 35 - 31 to win Super Bowl XIII . The exciting game led to a high rating of 47.1 .
5. Super Bowl XII (1978) – 47.2
The Super Bowl was take on indoors for the first time at the Louisiana Superdome in 1978 . Super Bowl XII boast the Dallas Cowboys representing the NFC and the Denver Broncos out of the AFC . Broncos quarterback Craig Morton succeed Super Bowl VI as the starter on the Dallas Cowboys . Now , Morton had a luck to beat his former squad , which was lead by quarterback Roger Staubach .
alas for Morton , the Broncos never stand a chance against Dallas ’ elect defense . Morton completed 4 of 15 straits for 39 yards before being replaced by Norris Weese in the third poop . The Cowboys accept a 13 - 0 lead into halftime before ball up it unfastened in the second one-half to deliver the goods 27 - 10 . The Cowboys are known as “ America ’s Team , ” so a 47.2 valuation for Super Bowl XII should not follow as a surprise .
4. Super Bowl XLIX (2015) – 47.5
In the early 2000s , Tom Brady and the New England Patriotsbecame a dynasty after succeed three of four Super Bowls , with the last one come in 2005 . However , the New England dynasty was in a 10 - class title drought when it entered Super Bowl XLIX 2015 . Standing across New England on the other spare-time activity were the defending Super Bowl superstar Seattle Seahawks .
The game lived up to the hype , as New England entered the final two minutes with a 28 - 24 tip . The Seattle offensive activity reached the 1 - yard line before things go haywire . Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted a Russell Wilson pass to varnish the triumph in one of the bang-up plays in Super Bowl history . Many household tuned in to see the Patriots pull ahead the Super Bowl , as the game read a 47.5 rating .
3. Super Bowl XX (1986) – 48.3
One of the most predominant team in NFL story is the 1985 Chicago Bears . Led by chief coach Mike Ditka , theBearsentered Super Bowl XX with a 14 - 1 disc , with their only blemish do at the hand of the Miami Dolphins . The Bears ’ defending team remains one of the most dominant units in NFL account and have several future Hall of Fame players , including left-hand death Dan Hampton , right end Richard Dent , and center linebacker Mike Singletary .
The squad tasked with play the Bears was the New England Patriots . unluckily for their patriot , they stood in the way of a bombilation saw as Chicago show no mercy in their 46 - 10 win . It remain the Bears ’ lone Super Bowl win . Chicago ’s popularity help in a monolithic 48.3 rating .
2. Super Bowl XVII (1983) – 48.6
The 1982 - 1983 season commence with a player ’ strike , forcing the league to reduce the schedule from 16 biz to nine . Additionally , the postseason implemented a unique 16 - team , four - round playoff tournament to determine the champion . The concluding two teams in the tournament were the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins , who met in Super Bowl XVII .
After heading into halftime down 17 - 10 , the Redskins stormed back , scoring 17 unreciprocated points to pull ahead 27 - 17 . The Redskins rush fire was the difference , as running back John Riggins rushed for a then - criminal record 166 yard . Super Bowl XVII , which pull back a 48.6 rating , was the Redskins first of three championship over the next 10 season .
1. Super Bowl XVI (1982) – 49.1
The highest - rated Super Bowl dates back to 1982 when the San Francisco 49ers acquire on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI . It remains the only Super Bowl to cross the 49.0 ratings doorway . Super Bowl XVI is the fourth - highest - rated telecasting broadcast of all time , behindRoots ’ Part VIII(51.1),Dallas’Who Done It(53.3 ) , and theMAS*Hseries finale ( 60.2 ) .
Super Bowl XVI also benefit from a great matchup between two 13 - 3 teams . San Francisco jumped on Cincinnati ahead of time with a 20 - 0 halftime confidential information . The Bengals outpoint the 49ers 21 - 6 in the 2nd half , but it was n’t enough to defeat San Francisco . Legendary 49ers quarterbackJoe Montanawas named Super Bowl MVP , the first of three in his career .
