Sunday TV ratings: NBC scores with Ryder Cup and NFL

The U.S. team's dramatic loss in Sunday's Ryder Cup action delivered a TV ratings bump.

And with the much bigger ratings of the NFL, Sunday's action produced some big swings compared to last year.

Cup coverage: NBC's coverage of Cup action in Chicago Sunday drew a 4.1 overnight rating, translating into 4.1% of households in the 56 urban TV markets measured for overnights. That's up 71% from 2010 coverage, when the event was staged in Wales, and up 21% from 2008, when it was held in Louisville. It's the highest overnight since 1999 for the Ryder Cup, which had plenty of on-air drama.

Predictable: NBC got a tight game between two big-market teams, Philadelphia and the N.Y. Giants, in prime time, so it's no surprise it scored a big overnight rating. The game drew 15.6%, up 23% from comparable coverage of a New York Jets-Baltimore game last year.

Jets still a draw: Even with the San Francisco 49ers blowing out the Jets 34-0 in the early game in Fox's doubleheader, the Jets managed to draw viewers -- coverage got a 9.8 overnight, up 38% from comparable coverage last year featuring a Pittsburgh-Houston game.

Losing teams can deliver: In Fox's late time slot, New Orleans and Green Bay came into their game with just one win between them. But as the main game in that time slot in Fox's doubleheader, coverage drew a 14.9 overnight, up 10% from last year's coverage featuring the Saints and Packers.

Fox's numbers steady: Fox, in its first season of coverage of regular-season college football, is holding its own against ABC's marquee Saturday night games. Fox's Texas-Oklahoma State game drew a 2.8 overnight to top ABC's Wisconsin-Nebraska game, which drew a 2.6 overnight.