The Denver Broncos' 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers fell short of the 114.4 million viewers who watched last year's heart-stopping finish of the New England Patriots' win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on NBC and Super Bowl XLVIII, which drew 112.2 million viewers on Fox in 2014.
The matchup had a great storyline with Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning possibly ending his brilliant career with a Super Bowl ring. But a tight, competitive finish is what pushes the ratings to new heights. Super Bowl 50 did not have one.
The ratings for the games peaked in the 8:30 to 9 p.