All of the NFL television partners have reason to be happy at the end of the regular season — all five packages showed increases following years of declines.The league showed a 5 percent increase this season as an average of 15.8 million viewers tuned into non-London games.It was a year largely devoid of off-field controversy after ratings decreased 9.7 percent last season and 8 percent in 2016.Neal Pilson http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-cody-barton-jersey , the former president of CBS Sports who now runs his own sports television consulting company, said the increases are due to a number of factors which include better prime-time matchups and most of the big-market teams doing well.The biggest improvement belonged to ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” which was up 8 percent over last season. The most-watched game was the Nov. 17 matchup between Kansas City and the Los Angeles Rams, which attracted 16.7 million viewers. The game was originally scheduled for Mexico City, but it was moved to Los Angeles due to poor field conditions at Azteca Stadium. The Rams won 54-51 in the highest-scoring game in the series’ 49-season history.“The league is finally giving ESPN a strong package of games. For many years I thought it wasn’t good, but at the beginning of the season I thought their ratings would improve because of the schedule they had,” Pilson said.The CBS Sunday afternoon package and NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” both experienced 6 percent gains. CBS averaged 16.5 million viewers, and had three of the five most-watched games. The Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day game between Chicago and Detroit averaged 26.6 million, which was second across the league. Two games featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers — Dec. 16 vs. New England (24.6 million) and Dec. 23 at New Orleans (24 million) — also placed in the top five.CBS has the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 and is expected to have an update on ad sales next week when it holds a briefing with reporters about the network’s plans for this year’s game.NBC averaged 19.3 million viewers and had seven games that topped 20 million Gary Jennings Jr. Jersey , compared to four last season. The Nov. 4 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots averaged 23.7 million, and was the largest prime-time audience on any network since ABC aired the Academy Awards last March.“Thursday Night Football,” which was down at midseason on Fox, had many strong matchups in the second half and finished with a 4 percent increase, averaging 14.9 million viewers. Last season’s 10-game package, which was split between CBS and NBC, averaged 14.1 million.The Nov. 29 game between New Orleans and Dallas averaged 21.4 million and was the fourth-most watched game in prime time this season. Besides compelling late-season games, Pilson said having the package on one network for 10 straight weeks was a big benefit.Fox’s Sunday afternoon ratings were flat at midseason, but finished up 2 percent for the year http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-phil-haynes-jersey , averaging 18.0 million. The Thanksgiving Day contest between Washington and Dallas was the most-watched game in the regular season with 30.5 million viewers. The Cowboys’ Dec. 2 game against the Eagles was third at 25.2 million.Even though Fox continues to mostly air NFC games and CBS has the AFC, those lines have started to blur a little more as the league has flexed games between the two networks so as to provide the best ratings. For example, CBS had the doubleheader on Oct. 21 and its featured game was Dallas at Washington.Pilson thinks the league’s ratings momentum should carry into the playoffs, which begin Saturday. As far as a Super Bowl matchup that could deliver the best rating, Pilson favored Dallas-New England or Dallas-Kansas City. Cam Newton gave the Panthers an early injury scare before returning to help Carolina defeat the New England Patriots 25-14 in a preseason game Friday night.On the game’s opening drive, Newton scrambled out of the pocket on third-and-9 before recklessly diving head-first �? this is the preseason, after all �? and landing on his head after getting upended by cornerback Jonathan Jones.Newton was forced to leave the game to be evaluated for a concussion, but returned four plays later to a loud ovation and played the remainder of the first half.He finished 11 of 17 for 142 yards passing and led three scoring drives �? all resulting in field goals �? as the Panthers built a 9-3 lead at halftime.Running back Christian McCaffrey continued to be a major player on offense, touching the ball 10 times for 51 yards on Carolina’s opening drive which lasted nearly 10 minutes.The Panthers (3-0) had 203 yards in the first half Ugo Amadi Jersey , but couldn’t find the end zone.It was a quiet night for Tom Brady, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 102 yards in the first half. The five-time Super Bowl champion didn’t get much help from his receivers, who dropped multiple passes. The Patriots never did get in sync offensively and were limited to 130 yards in the first half.“We’ve been preparing for this offense so we know they have a good team,” Panthers rookie cornerback Donte Jackson said. “They have a really good motion offense that likes to get things done efficiently. We were just prepared for it. That’s all it was.”Backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke scored on a rollout in the second half and Garrett Gilbert connected on a TD pass to Mose Frazier for Carolina’s only touchdowns. New England’s only touchdown came with 2:51 left when Mike Gillislee scored on a 2-yard run.NATIONAL ANTHEMThere were no on-field protests during the playing of the national anthem.INJURIESPatriots: Running back Jeremy Hill, who is battling for a roster spot, left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return.Panthers: Already without three starting offensive linemen, Carolina lost starting offensive tackle Jeremiah Sirles on the game’s opening drive to a hamstring injury. He did not return.NEXT UPPatriots: Visit Giants on Aug. 30.Panthers: Visit Steelers on Aug. 30.___