Traina Thoughts: All Four NFL Playoff Games See Double-Digit Ratings Decrease

NFL ratings continue to decrease for each playoff game.

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

1. The NFL had a disastrous weekend when it came to ratings. Numbers have been down all season and it was more of the same for the wild-card games. The biggest surprise was that the best game (Panthers-Falcons) had the biggest decrease year over year. Yes, markets were a big factor, but that was a competitive and entertaining game. Here's the breakdown:

Titans-Chiefs (14.7) was down 11 percent versus last year's Raiders-Texans game.

Falcons-Rams (14.9) was down 10 percent versus last year's Lions-Seahawks game.

Bills-Jaguars (17.2) was down 10 percent versus last year's Dolphins-Steelers game.

Panthers-Saints (20.4) was down 21 percent versus last year's Giants-Packers game.

Wild Card Weekend Overnights Roundup:
TEN-KC: 14.7 HH -11% YOY vs. 16.6 (OAK-HOU)
ATL-LAR: 14.9 HH -10% YOY vs. 16.5 (DET-SEA)
BUF-JAX: 17.2 HH -10% YOY vs. 19.2 (MIA-PIT)
CAR-NO: 20.4 HH -21% YOY vs. 25.9 (NYG-GB)

— Anthony Crupi (@crupicrupicrupi) January 8, 2018

All told, Wild Card overnight ratings were down 14% vs 2017—not at all surprising given the absence of three of the NFL's biggest TV draws (Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle), the rep from the No. 1 DMA (NY Giants) and Pittsburgh's having earned a bye week.

— Anthony Crupi (@crupicrupicrupi) January 8, 2018

The NFL and CBS will say prayers every single night this week that Jacksonville doesn't upset Pittsburgh on Sunday, because Patriots-Jaguars instead of Patriots-Steelers in the AFC title game will make executives at the league and network very, very sad.

2. Here are your Divisional Round playoff lines:

Falcons -2.5
Patriots -13
Steelers -7.5
Vikings -4

And here's where the Super Bowl odds stand today:

Patriots +175
Vikings +360
Steelers +500
Saints +675
Falcons +850
Eagles +1350
Jaguars +2000
Titans +6000

2. Speaking of odds, after Oprah Winfrey's speech at the Golden Globes last night, she's a major player on offshore sites offering lines on the 2020 Presidential Election:

Trump +210
Pence +950
Kamala Harris +1050
Bernie Sanders +1250
Elizabeth Warren +1350
Oprah Winfrey +1500

Other notables:

The Rock +3000
Mark Cuban +4500
Gregg Popovich +10000
Michael Jordan +15000
Vince McMahon +20000

3. Tom Brady is getting all cryptic on us.

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A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady)

4. Don't ever question Saints' defensive end Cam Jordan about his braids.

I worked hard for this!!!! 😂😂😂 every flip, somewhere a star is born ✨⭐️😂😂😂😂😱 jk https://t.co/hZcNYvyAsW

— Cam Jordan (@camjordan94) January 8, 2018

This dude @camjordan94 always flipping his dreds 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/xeM0t1u1rA

— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) January 8, 2018

5. Erin Andrews delivered one of the more notable sideline reports after halftime than you'll ever hear during yesterday's Panthers-Saints game.

Erin Andrews offered some advice to Saints coach Sean Peyton during Sunday's Wildcard game against the Panthers. pic.twitter.com/IPlYOuQjKF

— Rob Tornoe (@RobTornoe) January 8, 2018

6. This is outstanding.

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BONUS ITEM: Georgia +4 vs. Alabama tonight.