NFL TV ratings: AFC and NFC championship games both draw more than 55 million viewers
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, from left, celebrates with tight end George Kittle, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, linebacker Fred Warner and quarterback Brock Purdy after the NFC Championship. Credit: AP/Mark J. Terrill
The NFL ratings juggernaut continued through the conference championship games on Sunday, including what CBS said was the most-watched AFC Championship Game on record.
Kansas City’s victory over the Baltimore Ravens averaged 55.473 million viewers, surpassing the 54.85 million for the Steelers’ victory over the Jets in January of 2011. CBS also set a record for a divisional round game in either conference this month when Kansas City beat the Bills before an average audience of 50.395 million.
The NFC Championship Game on Fox drew an even bigger audience than the AFC, with the 49ers’ victory over the Lions averaging 56.691 million viewers, the most for an NFC title game since 2012.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
