While CBS drew the highest overnight rating of the weekend for Chargers/Steelers, the numbers could not compare to last year’s Giants/Cowboys battle.
The Steelers’ win over the Chargers drew a 21.4/36 overnight rating on CBS late Sunday afternoon, down 17% from a 25.8/43 for last year’s Giants/Cowboys game on FOX. The 21.4 overnight was the highest of the four NFL Wild Card games this weekend, and is the highest overnight for any sporting event since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The 21.4 also marks the lowest overnight for a Divisional game in the late Sunday afternoon window since 2002, when Packers/Rams drew a 21.0/36.
According to preliminary numbers, the game averaged 29.7 million viewers during the prime time portion (7-8 PM). CBS won the night mostly on the strength of Chargers/Steelers, beating second-place NBC by 32% in total viewers.
Overall, ratings declined for all four Divisional Round playoff games last weekend, with Chargers/Steelers and Cardinals/Panthers both seeing double-digit declines.
Overnight ratings for late Sunday Divisional Round games.
2008-9: 21.4: Chargers/Steelers (Sun., 1/11/09, 4:30 PM CBS)
2007-8: 25.8: Giants/Cowboys (Sun., 1/13/08, 4:30 PM FOX)
2006-7: 22.1: Patriots/Chargers (Sun., 1/14/07, 4:30 PM CBS)
2005-6: 21.7: Panthers/Bears (Sun. 1/15/06, 4:30 PM FOX)
2004-5: 24.3: Colts/Patriots (Sun., 1/16/05, 4:30 PM CBS)
2003-4: 25.3: Packers/Eagles (Sun., 1/11/04, 4:30 PM FOX)
2002-3: 23.6: Jets/Raiders (Sun., 1/12/03, 4:30 PM CBS)
2001-2: 21.0: Packers/Rams (Sun., 1/20/02, 4 PM FOX)
2000-1: 20.6: Eagles/Giants (Sun., 1/7/01, 4 PM FOX)
1999-0: 20.4: Titans/Colts (Sun., 1/16/00, 4 PM CBS)
1998-9: 22.1: Cardinals/Vikings (Sun., 1/10/99, 4 PM FOX)
