NBC scored a solid increase in overnight ratings for its first NFL Divisional Round game since 1998.
The Ravens/Patriots NFL Divisional Round game had a 20.9 overnight rating on NBC, up 7% from Saints/Seahawks on FOX last year (19.5) but down 3% from Ravens/Broncos on CBS in 2013 (21.6). The 20.9 is tied with Ravens/Steelers in 2011 as the third-best for a Saturday Divisional Round game since at least the 1997-98 season.
In addition, the 20.9 is tied as the second-best for a Saturday AFC Divisional Round game since 1994.
The 20.9 is also the highest overnight for an NFL telecast on NBC, excluding the Super Bowl, since the network resumed airing games in the 2006-07 season. The previous high was a 20.8 for a Jets/Colts Wild Card game in 2011.
(Sat. numbers from NBC via TV By the Numbers)
