Sunday's much-hyped Super Bowl XLVIII, which saw the Seattle Seahawks topple the Denver Broncos in a near shutout, is not on track to beat any records. Early returns for the climax of the 2013-14 NFL season give the game a 47.6 preliminary household rating and a 70 share. Down from last year, that puts it in the top five in metered market history.
PHOTOS: Super Bowl XLVIII's Big Moments
Last year's game, which pulled a then-record 48.1 household rating in early returns, went on to miss out on an all-time record with 108.41 million viewers. (The biggest Super Bowl, and the biggest event in U.S. TV history, came in 2012 with 111.3 million.)
Final ratings, including a total viewership tally, will arrive later on Monday -- but the lopsided outcome of the game likely brought an audience drop-off later in the game. The first half of the game saw the Broncos fail to put any points on the scoreboard. The final 43-8 score was the most lopsided since the 1993 Super Bowl.
