The 19th season of the NFL on FOX premieres Sunday, Sept. 9 with doubleheader coverage of seven games including one of the most anticipated matchups of the season as Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers host Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers. Week 1 action begins with the New Orleans Saints playing their first game without head coach Sean Payton hosting Washington in what could be Robert Griffin III’s NFL debut.
At present, FOX Sports is scheduled to broadcast 103 regular-season games, including nine editions of AMERICA’S GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL on FOX’s national doubleheader window and the highest-rated most-watched NFL game on any network) and the traditional Thanksgiving Day game this year featuring the Redskins taking on Tony Romo’s Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, TX.
Viewers can look forward to many exciting matchups on the NFL on FOX schedule including two recent Super Bowl Champions facing off on Sunday, Sept. 30 when the Packers host the Saints in Week 4. The reigning Super Bowl Champs headline Week 6 when the Giants travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in a highly anticipated NFC Championship Game rematch on Sunday, Oct. 14. The Giants are also featured Week 8 when Eli Manning’s team heads to Arlington to take on the Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 28. Other key dates include a clash in Philadelphia with the Eagles hosting the Cowboys in an NFC East battle on Sunday, Nov. 11 followed by a Week 12 NFC Divisional Playoff rematch between the 49ers and Saints in New Orleans on Sunday, Nov. 25. Week 14 features two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL when Drew Brees’ Saints faceoff against Eli Manning’s Giants on Sunday, Dec. 9. As the regular season reaches its final stretch, the NFL’s oldest rivalry resumes on FOX Sports in a Week 15 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 16. Weeks 16 and 17 could see many teams fighting for playoff positioning with the Cowboys hosting the Saints and the Giants traveling to Baltimore to take on the reigning AFC North Champions on Sunday, Dec. 23. The following week features two key divisional matchups with the Eagles traveling to New Meadowlands Stadium to face the Giants and the Detroit Lions hosting the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 30.
Each week, coverage begins with FOX NFL SUNDAY (12:00-1:00 PM ET/9:00-10:00 AM PT), America’s most-watched pregame show for 18-straight seasons. Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee return as co-hosts alongside analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Strahan, NFL insider Jay Glazer and comedian Frank Caliendo. Since its premiere in September 1994, FOX NFL SUNDAY has won 20 Emmy Awards for its production and personalities, including four for Outstanding Studio Show.
The 2011 NFL season was one for the record books for FOX Sports. Just when you thought that NFL ratings couldn’t get any higher, the regular season averaged a 12.0/24 national household rating/share and was FOX Sports’ highest-rated NFL season in 16 years (12.5/29 in 1995). It also marked ratings growth for the third consecutive year, a first for the NFC package since the 1970 merger. FOX was the only full-season NFL television carrier to boast a year-over-year ratings increase last season. The NFL on FOX 2011 season was +2% compared to 2010 (11.8/24), and since posting a 10.5 HH rating for the 2008 season, NFL on FOX ratings have grown +14% over the last three seasons (10.5 in 2008 to 12.0 in 2011). In addition, audience for the NFL on FOX for 2011 averaged 20.1 million viewers, tying 2010 as FOX Sports’ most-watched NFL season ever.
The 2012 NFL on FOX season includes 68 appearances of last season’s playoff teams, including nine games featuring the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. The NFC South Champion New Orleans Saints and the NFC Wild Card Atlanta Falcons each play 11 games on FOX, while the NFC Wild Card Lions play 10. The NFC West Champion 49ers and NFC North Champion Packers are each scheduled for nine games.
Once the playoff teams are determined, the NFL on FOX presents exclusive live postseason coverage, including an NFC Wild Card Game on Sunday, Jan. 6, the NFC Divisional Playoffs, Saturday, Jan. 12 and Sunday, Jan. 13, and the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 20.
The NFL on FOX’s 19th season of coverage kicks off with three preseason contests beginning on Thursday, Aug. 16 (8:00 PM ET) with the Cincinnati Bengals’ Andy Dalton and A.J. Green looking to build on their rookie success taking on Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and the Atlanta Falcons. That game is followed up the next night with the reigning AFC North Champion Baltimore Ravens hosting Matthew Stafford and Ndamukong Suh’s Detroit Lions on Friday, Aug. 17 (8:00 PM ET). FOX Sports’ preseason coverage wraps up on Sunday, Aug. 26 (4:00 PM ET) with the new-look Denver Broncos featuring Peyton Manning hosting the 49ers.
