Steelers-Patriots draws big overnight ratings

 

The Patriots continue to draw big TV ratings.
On Sunday, they faced the Steelers, considered a team that could derail their march toward an undefeated record. The 4:15 ET game on CBS – which was Pittsburgh-New England in most of the country – earned an 18.4 overnight rating and a 33 share in the nation’s 55 largest markets.
The comparable time slot at this time last year on CBS received a 13.7.
The rating is the percentage of all homes with televisions watching the game, while the share is the percentage of TVs in use at the time that are tuned in to it. National ratings are expected Tuesday.
The three games that have earned the highest overnight ratings this season all involved the Patriots: a win over the Indianapolis Colts drew a 22.5, and a victory over the Dallas Cowboys received an 18.5, all on CBS.
Panthers
The quarterback looked like the 44-year-old that he is. The running back fumbled again. The star receiver again couldn’t get involved.
While the offense has been downright offensive since Jake Delhomme was lost for the season, Sunday’s 37-6 loss to Jacksonville set new highs for Carolina ineptitude.
With Vinny Testaverde missing open receivers and having an interception returned for a touchdown, DeShaun Foster losing his fifth fumble and Steve Smith mostly a non-factor, the Panthers (5-8) virtually ended their already-slim playoff hopes.
And it left embattled coach John Fox with a decision to make at quarterback. With high-priced David Carr so far down the depth chart he’s out of the equation, does Fox stick with Testaverde or go with rookie Matt Moore for the final three games?
For Fox, it’s deciding between the second-oldest starting QB in NFL history with a 65.8 passer rating, and an undrafted rookie, signed in September, with a 21.1 rating.
“We weren’t as consistent throwing the ball as we needed to be,” Fox said. “When we have been, we’ve been in games. When we haven’t been, we’ve not.”
49ers
Quarterback Trent Dilfer is unlikely to play against Cincinnati on Saturday after incurring a concussion.
Dilfer, the 14th-year pro running the 49ers’ offense while Alex Smith sits out with an injured shoulder, was taken to a hospital after a hard hit from Minnesota’s Charles Gordon shortly before halftime Sunday in the Vikings’ 27-7 victory.
Dilfer was released from the hospital later in the day, but coach Mike Nolan declared him doubtful for the Bengals.
Shaun Hill is likely to start for San Francisco (3-10), but Nolan also hopes to sign a veteran quarterback. Practice squad member Drew Olson, who joined the team just two weeks ago, is the only other quarterback on the roster.
Hill, a six-year veteran backup who had never thrown a pass before Sunday, went 22-of-28 for 181 yards against Minnesota, leading a touchdown drive despite playing with a bandage on the index finger of his throwing hand.
“He’s very much like Trent,” Nolan said of Hill. “It’s pretty similar. We didn’t have to get out of our game plan yesterday in any way.”
Nolan still insists the 49ers haven’t decided whether Smith will undergo surgery on his shoulder, keeping him out for the season.
“If Alex was cleared to play, I’d say he would be helpful,” Nolan said. “He could help you win.”
Texans
Here’s something new: Vince Young and Reggie Bush criticized, while Mario Williams flies happily under the radar.
The almost universally panned top pick in 2006 has shaken off a rookie year marked by a painful foot ailment, constant criticism and disappointing statistics to quietly emerge as a force on Houston’s young defense this season.
Last year, many declared Houston’s decision to draft Williams a huge mistake and believed the team would be better off with Bush or Young, who were drafted second and third. Now, while people complain about Young’s touchdown to interception ratio (7 to 16) and Bush’s questionable on field decision-making and lack of big plays, Williams is evading critics with increasingly solid performances.
“I’m just playing,” Williams said. “I’m just more comfortable. It’s getting later on in the year and just settling down finally.”
Williams was strong early, but has been better than ever in the four games since Houston’s bye. He had a sack in Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay; his fourth straight game with at least one sack tied a team record.
He also has 46 tackles and has forced two fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
He’s had 5 1/2 sacks in the last four games to push his season total to 9 1/2, a single-season team record and fourth in the AFC.
Williams isn’t sure what has been the difference since the bye.
“I feel like I’m doing pretty much the same thing,” he said. “I can honestly say that after our break I felt a lot more rejuvenated … I’ve just been feeling fresh and been able to go 100 percent the whole game.”