Though huge for primetime, the rescheduled Steelers/Chiefs game could not quite measure up to last year’s early afternoon window.
The Steelers/Chiefs AFC Divisional Round game had a 21.9 overnight rating on NBC Sunday night, down 5% from Seahawks/Panthers last year (23.1) and down 16% from Cowboys/Packers in 2015 (26.2), both of which aired in the traditional 1 PM ET window on FOX. Compared to last year’s Packers/Cardinals Divisional Round game on NBC, which aired on a Saturday night, overnights increased 8% from a 20.3.
This year’s game was originally scheduled to kick off at 1 PM Sunday afternoon, but was pushed back due to inclement weather.
The Steelers’ win, which peaked at a 23.8 from 11-11:15 PM ET, delivered the highest overnight ever for a primetime Wild Card or Divisional Round game — with the caveat that none of the previous games aired on a Sunday night.
Excluding the Super Bowl, it also scored the second-best NFL overnight on NBC since the network resumed airing games in 2006 — trailing last year’s Seahawks/Vikings Wild Card game (22.5). That matchup aired in the 1 PM Sunday window.
Pittsburgh was the top local market with a 57.1 rating, followed close behind by Kansas City at a 55.2. Denver was the top neutral market with a 28.5, with Norfolk, VA (27.8) and Richmond, VA (27.1) rounding out the top five.
(Wknd. numbers from NBC Sports)
