Ratings were mixed for the start of the NFL Playoffs.
NBC drew an 18.3/30 overnight rating for the Chargers’ overtime win over the Colts Saturday night, up 10% from a 16.6/27 for Steelers/Jaguars in ’07, and the highest overnight rating for a Wild Card Saturday game since 2003.
The 18.3 is also the highest overnight rating for an NFL telecast on NBC since the network returned to the league in 2006, surpassing the previous high of 17.2 for a Cowboys/Seahawks game on Wild Card Saturday in 2007.
Ratings peaked at a 21.6/31 during overtime.
NBC did not have the same success for the early Wild Card game. The Cardinals’ win over the Falcons drew a 14.3/28 overnight rating, down 7% from a 15.4/29 for Washington/Seahawks in ’07.
Overnight ratings for Wild Card Saturday.
since 1998-99 season
2008: 14.3/28: Falcons/Cardinals (Sat., 1/3/09, 4:30 PM NBC)
2008: 18.3/30: Colts/Chargers (Sat., 1/3/09, 8 PM NBC)
2007: 15.4/29: Washington/Seahawks (Sat., 1/5/08, 4:30 PM NBC)
2007: 16.7/27: Jaguars/Steelers (Sat., 1/5/08, 8 PM NBC)
2006: 14.2/27: Chiefs/Colts (Sat., 1/6/07, 4:30 PM NBC)
2006: 17.2/28: Cowboys/Seahawks (Sat., 1/6/07, 8 PM NBC)
2005: 15.7/30: Washington/Buccaneers (Sat., 1/7/06, 4:30 PM ABC)
2005: 15.6/26: Jaguars/Patriots (Sat., 1/7/06, 8 PM ABC)
2004: 16.0/30: Rams/Seahawks (Sat., 1/8/05, 4:30 PM ABC)
2004: 17.8/28: Jets/Chargers (Sat., 1/8/05, 8 PM ABC)
2003: 15.4/29: Titans/Ravens (Sat., 1/3/04, 4:30 PM ABC)
2003: 16.5/26: Cowboys/Panthers (Sat., 1/3/04, 8 PM ABC)
2002: 15.1/28: Colts/Jets (Sat., 1/4/03, 4:30 PM ABC)
2002: 18.4/29: Falcons/Packers (Sat., 1/4/03, 8 PM ABC)
2001: 14.9/29: Buccaneers/Eagles (Sat., 1/12/02, 4:30 PM ABC)
2001: 15.6/25: Jets/Raiders (Sat., 1/12/02, 8 PM ABC)
2000: 14.5/31: Colts/Dolphins (Sat., 12/30/00, 12:30 PM ABC)
2000: 17.6/33: Rams/Saints (Sat., 12/30/00, 4 PM ABC)
1999: 14.8/34: Bills/Titans (Sat., 1/8/00, 12:30 PM ABC)
1999: 15.8/31: Lions/Washington (Sat., 1/8/00, 4 PM ABC)
1998: 17.9/37: Bills/Dolphins (Sat., 1/2/99, 12:30 PM ABC)
1998: 21.0/28: Cowboys/Cardinals (Sat., 1/2/99, 4 PM ABC)
