Perfect Patriots pull in huge numbers

Television had its biggest hit of the season last weekend. The New England Patriots' clinching of a perfect season with a Saturday night win over the New York Giants was seen by an estimated 34.5 million people, according to Nielsen Media Research. That was 9 million more than any prime-time entertainment show this season. The game wasn't a windfall for any one particular network, however. Both CBS and NBC aired a simulcast of the NFL Network telecast, along with local stations in New York and the Boston area.

For the week Dec. 24-30, network averages were: CBS, 8.6 million viewers (5.3 rating, 10 share); NBC, 8.2 million (5.1, 9); Fox, 6.1 million (3.6, 7); ABC, 5.2 million (3.3, 6); CW, 1.7 million (1.1, 2); My Network, 1.1 million (0.7, 1); ION, 610,000 (0.4, 1).

ASSOCIATED PRESS

1. "NBC Sunday Night Football: Tennessee at Indianapolis" (NBC)

2. "NFL Football: New England at N.Y. Giants" (CBS)

3. "NFL Football: New England at N.Y. Giants" (NBC)

4. "60 Minutes" (CBS)

6. "Without a Trace" (CBS)

7. "Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick" (NBC)

8. "Deal Or No Deal" (Tuesday) (NBC)

9. "Amazing Race 12" (CBS)

10. "CSI: NY" (Thursday) (CBS)

12. "The OT" (Fox)

13. "Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit" (Wed.) (NBC)

14. "NBC NFL Pre-Kick" (Sat.) (NBC),

15. "Football Night in America" (NBC)

16. "ABC Sunday Movie: The Sound of Music" (ABC)

18. "Cold Case" (CBS)

19. "Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit" (Wed.) (NBC)

20. "Fox Movie Special: Christmas With the