A thriller between two iconic NFL teams delivered the kind of lofty numbers one would expect.
The Packers/Cowboys NFC Divisional Round game had a 28.2 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon, up 8% from Steelers/Broncos last year (26.2) and up 11% from Colts/Broncos in 2014 (25.2), both of which aired on CBS. Compared to the 2015 Cowboys/Packers Divisional Round game, which aired in the early 1 PM ET timeslot, overnights increased 8% from a 26.2.
The 28.2 is the highest for a Wild Card or Divisional Round playoff game in 20 years, since Cowboys/Panthers in 1997 (28.4). The previous high was a 27.7 for 49ers/Packers in the 2015 Wild Card round, and the previous Divisional Round high was a 27.4 for Giants/Packers in 2012.
The Packers’ last-second win delivered the highest overnight for any single-network television program since last year’s Super Bowl, topping Game 7 of last year’s Cubs/Indians World Series (25.2).
For the weekend, Packers/Cowboys was easily the highest rated NFL telecast in the metered markets — cruising past the second-place mark of 21.9 for Steelers/Chiefs. It was the only Divisional Round game to post a year-over-year increase.
In other action on FOX, Seahawks/Falcons had an 18.3 overnight on Saturday afternoon — down 7% from Chiefs/Patriots on CBS last year (19.7) and down 12% from Ravens/Patriots on NBC in 2015 (20.9). The 18.3 is the lowest in the window in seven years, since Cardinals/Saints had a 17.9 in 2010.
