‘SNF’ touchdown in ratings game

A marquee matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots powered the NFL to its biggest weekend increase this season, with an 18 percent ratings gain for the four Sunday telecasts of Week 9. Moreover, in terms of all prime-time viewing, “Sunday Night Football” generated the best overnight rating, according to Nielsen, for any show since “60 Minutes” broadcast the Stormy Daniels interview in March. “It was a perfect setup for the NFL,” sports-media consultant Brian Mulligan told The Post. “The World Series reminded everyone how boring baseball is, while the NBA, with the Lakers and LeBron [James] fading fast, no longer seems so interesting,” Mulligan added.

The ratings breakout by “SNF,” which featured superstar quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers for the Packers and Tom Brady for the Patriots, crossed other milestones while delivering an overnight of 15.6.

The rating’s 63 percent increase over the comparable game a year ago made the Patriots’ 31-17 victory the highest rated “SNF” telecast for Week 9 on record.

It also marked the seventh time in eight weeks that “SNF” beat its rating for the same Sunday last season.

Other NFL rating highlights included the Los Angeles Rams’ first defeat of the season — a 45-35 loss to the New Orleans Saints — which produced a 7 percent ratings gain, and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 23-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens, which clocked a 5 percent ratings increase.

Even the day’s only lopsided game — the Atlanta Falcons’ 38-14 rout of the Washington Redskins — managed to hold its audience with a 9.2 rating.