Chiefs-Bills Playoff Game Draws Over 50 Million Viewers
By Movieguide® Contributor
Sunday’s NFL divisional playoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills secured the record for the most-watched NFL divisional game in history, with over 50 million people tuning in.
Per the Hollywood Reporter, “The game averaged 50.39 million viewers, surpassing the previous divisional round high of 48.52 million for a 2017 game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers (with the significant caveat that Nielsen didn’t measure out of home viewing prior to 2020). CBS’ telecast was up about 10 percent over last year’s Sunday primetime game (45.64 million for the Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers on Fox).”
While the Chiefs-Bills match-up was a pivotal game for both teams, that wasn’t necessarily the reason for such high viewership.
Along with being a big rivalry match-up in a high-stakes game, it also featured popular players such as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Stars from off the gridiron also attended, including Taylor Swift, as she continues to support Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Detroit Lions also drew a large audience this weekend.
“Apparently, a lot of people were interested in watching the Lions try to advance to the NFC title game for the first time in 32 years. This game had an average of audience of 40.4 million, which made it the most-watched divisional-round playoff game on NBC since 1994,” CBS Sports reported.
The Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers match-up also landed significant viewership.
That game had on average a total of 37.5 million views. That was the most-watched telecast on a Saturday since the Winter Olympics in 1994.
With only three game left in the NFL season, audience numbers are looking to be at an all-time high over the course of several weeks.
Movieguide® previously reported on the NFL’s success this season:
Streaming exclusively to Peacock in out-of-market locations, the AFC Wild Card game featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins lifted the streaming platform to its largest single day ever.
With a peak of 16.3 million concurrent users, Peacock’s records for audience usage, engagement and time spent were all broken as the football game also set the record for the most live-streamed event in U.S. history. The game was so popular that it was responsible for 30% of the nation’s internet usage while it was streaming.
The ratings for the game were up 6% from last year’s AFC Wild Card game, which was simulcast on Peacock and NBC’s broadcast network. Across all viewing options – Peacock, NBC stations in Kansas City and Miami and NFL+ – this year’s game averaged 23 million viewers with a peak at 25 million in the second quarter.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
