Bears Ratings Are Down From Where They Were This Time Last Year

A last-minute comeback attempt by the Chicago Bears couldn’t completely salvage Week 1’s ratings on FOX-TV for the team’s season-opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Bears were taking on the defending NFC champions and dueling in a tight game throughout, but Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune writes ratings for the 2017 lid-lifter were down compared to where they were after Week 1 in 2016. Rosenthal notes the Week 1 tilt between the Bears and Falcons posted a 20.8 household rating – or an average of 720,325 homes over the course of the three-hour contest. This number is down from Week 1 in 2016, when the Bears averaged a 22.4 rating in a road loss against the Houston Texans – a game the Bears led at halftime before squandering the lead in the second half.

At least Bears fans started to tune in late when they realized the team had a shot to pull off an upset in the final minutes. The end of the Bears- Falcons game put up a 24.5 rating (848,460 homes) when quarterback Mike Glennon’s drive took the team to the 5-yard-line. Unfortunately, Bears fans weren’t rewarded for their last-minute check-in as the potential game-winning scoring drive stalled.

Between the team’s 9-23 start under head coach John Fox, a seemingly endless list of injuries, and lack of star power, it’s no wonder the Bears’ Week 1 ratings took a tumble. Personally, I can’t help but wonder if Mitch Trubisky sitting on the bench factors into the equation, too. After all, plenty of ink has been spilled and a sufficient amount of web space has been filled writing about the rookie quarterback this summer. It would only make sense if some fans were holding out until Trubisky’s debut.

Glennon played well enough in the fourth quarter to keep a stranglehold on the Bears’ starting quarterback position, but only time will tell how long he hangs on to his role. Trubisky is only one hit away from getting the call and jumping into game action, so that’s something to keep in mind for fans holding out for a Trubisky sighting.

But don’t wait too long. You never know when Tarik Cohen will line up under center or do something magical.