Most watched Super Bowl ever

While we await the final TV numbers for Super Bowl 44, the overnight numbers are in. A quick measure of the country’s top 55 markets shows an overnight rating of 46.4. A rating point is equal to one percent of all the TV in the country, meaning nearly half of all Americans were tuned into watch the contest between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. This seems to indicate that Super Bowl 44 was one of the most wathced Super Bowl’s ever.

As far as actual Super Bowl contests go, I think this one rates among one of the best in my 20 plus yeas of watching Super Bowls. Where it actually ranks is somewhat of a debate, but I think we can safely say that this one is in the top five. It was a pretty close game despite the final score, and the game was not decided until deep into the fourth quarter. That is pretty much all we can ask for.

I started watching the Super Bowl in 1986 with the Chicago Bears killing the New England Patriots, while over 90 million people watched that Super Bowl it wasn’t a very good game. Personally my favorite Super Bowl of all time has to be Super Bowl 23 ironically played in the same stadium has yesterday’s contest. In that game we saw one of the best QB’s of all time, Joe Montana, lead his team on an incredible come back late in the game.

With that being said it was very good to see Drew Brees overshadow Peyton Manning in this contest. Drew is a very likeable player, who kind of got the short end of the stick while he played for the San Diego Chargers. Last night he completed 32 passes, tying Tom Brady for the most in Super Bowl history, and won Super Bowl MVP honors. Without doubt it was a great day for him, the New Orleans Saints, and the city of New Orleans.

Related Links:

•The Business of the NFL
•The Business of the Super Bowl
•NFL Complete.com