TV Ratings: Saints vs Lions Wins Sunday for NBC, While 'Once,' 'Desperate,' 'Pan Am' Sink

Chris Graythen/Getty Images The New Orleans Saints' 31-17 victory over the Detroit Lions during Sunday Night Football was also a win for NBC. Preliminary ratings show the game giving the network a 5.2 among adults 18-49 for the night and an audience of 13.7 million, topping closest rival Fox -- which got a significant boost from football overage. NBC was down from three percent from the previous week's match-up, with the game bringing in an average 6.5 rating in the key demo and 16.9 million viewers. PHOTOS: Fall TV Death Pool: Which New Show Will Be Axed? The OT gave Fox's animation block a sturdy lead-in, helping struggling freshman series Allen Gregory tie its premiere high of a 2.4 in adults 18-49. Overall, the network averaged a 5.1 among adults 18-49 for the night and 12.6 million. The 7:00 p.m. block of overage was the night's highest-rated program. It averaged a 9.0 rating in the key demo and brought in 24.55 million according to early numbers. The Simpsons (4.0), Family Guy (3.5) and The Cleveland Show (2.5) were all up among adults 18-49 as well, posting double-digit gains from last week. ABC's Sunday line-up of America's Funniest Home Videos, Once Upon a Time, Desperate Housewives and Pan Am hasn't appeared in full in three weeks, and the return marked lows across the board. The network averaged a 2.2 rating for the night in adults 18-49, narrowly edging out CBS and pulling in the night's lowest total viewership of 7 million. Once Upon a Time, still strong, hit a new series low of 3.1 among adults 18-49, while Desperate Housewives and Pan Am fell to just a 2.6 and 1.6 rating, respectively. Third place CBS was also back with its regularly scheduled line-up after a block of Person of Interest repeats last Sunday. 60 Minutes (1.8) The Amazing Race (2.7) and The Good Wife (1.9) were all down a tic in adults 18-49 from their last original episodes, while CSI: Miami saw a boost to a 2.2 rating for the night. Sunday, Dec. 4, Preliminary Overnight Ratings: 7 p.m. Fox: The OT/Football overage (24.55 million viewers, 9.0 rating among adults 18-49) NBC: Football Night in America (6.3 million, 2.2) CBS: 60 Minutes (11.9 million, 1.8) ABC: America's Funniest Home Videos (5.95 million, 1.4) 8 p.m. NBC: Football Night in America (14.2 million, 5.1) ABC: Once Upon a Time (9.6 million, 3.1) CBS: The Amazing Race (9.6 million, 2.7) Fox: The Simpsons (9.0 million, 4.0) 8:30 p.m. NBC: Sunday Night Football - Lions at Saints (18.5 million, 6.7) Fox: Allen Gregory (5.2 million, 2.4) 9 p.m. NBC: Sunday Night Football - Lions at Saints (17 million, 6.5) Fox: Family Guy (7.05 million, 3.5) ABC: Desperate Housewives (8.1 million, 2.6) CBS: The Good Wife (9.8 million, 1.9) 9:30 p.m. Fox: The Cleveland Show (4.4 million, 2.5) 10 p.m. NBC: Sunday Night Football - Lions at Saints (15.2 million, 6.3) CBS: CSI: Miami (10.4 million, 2.2) ABC: Pan Am (4.7 million, 1.6) TV Ratings