Audiences were off by only 36 % in week one , but were falling by an estimated 10 % each of the following weeksGames Deserved to Be Shown , by Michael Goodwin , New York Times , October 6 , 1987.. The Super Bowl XXI Champion New York Giants went 0-3 in replacement games , ultimately costing them a chance to make the playoffs and repeat their championship .
During the 1987 NFL season , audiences fell by 36 % during the first week and decreased by approximately 10 % each of the following weeks .