NFL suffers 9.7 percent drop in TV ratings for regular season

The NFL experienced a 9.7 percent drop in television ratings during the 2017 regular season, according to Nielsen numbers reported by Darren Rovell of ESPN.

Games averaged 1.6 million fewer viewers than last season.

The NFL's drop in viewership is consistent with other TV programming, as cable subscriptions continue to decline. But the Nielsen data still shows that 20 of the top 30 highest-rated shows in 2017 were NFL games.

NBC's Sunday Night Football and ESPN's Monday Night Football remain the most watched shows every week in all key male demographics. It's the seventh consecutive year that Sunday Night Football finished as the No. 1 primetime show in fall.

As Rovell notes, the dip in ratings has been at least partially attributed to Thursday Night Football and the expansion of the TV product.

The league also dealt with controversial player protests during the national anthem this season and a subsequent spat with President Donald Trump, which turned off some fans.