Coming off of a downer regular season, NFL playoff ratings got off to a slow start Saturday.
Saturday’s Titans-Chiefs AFC Wild Card earned a 13.0 rating and 22.2 million viewers across the ESPN family of networks, per Nielsen fast-nationals — down 10% and 14% respectively from last year (Raiders-Texans: 14.4, 25.63M) and down 12% and 14% respectively from 2016 (Chiefs-Texans: 14.8, 25.60M).
Figures include streaming and ESPN Deportes viewership.
The Titans’ comeback win, which peaked at a 14.8 and 26.1 million from 7:30-8 PM ET, was the lowest rated NFL playoff game since Cardinals-Panthers in the same window three years ago (12.8). That game aired exclusively on ESPN, with over-the-air simulcasts in the home markets.
It was the least-watched since Bengals-Texans on NBC in 2012 (21.9M), falling below the 2015 audience of 22.5 million. Keep in mind the numbers could still adjust up or down when the final nationals are released on Tuesday.
Kansas City led all markets with a 47.3 rating, down 14% from the Chiefs’ lone playoff game last year. That was in the Divisional Round and aired on a Sunday night (55.2). Compared to the Chiefs’ previous Wild Card appearance two years ago, which aired in the same Saturday afternoon window, ratings still fell 9% from a 52.1.
Nashville ranked second with a 31.7 rating, followed by Buffalo (22.2), New Orleans (20.8) and Pittsburgh (20.6).
Final numbers for Saturday’s late game, Falcons-Rams on NBC, were not immediately available. That game had a 14.9 rating in the metered markets, down 10% from last year (Titans-Chiefs, for reference, had a 14.7).
Early Saturday Wild Card Ratings, Viewership (Past Decade)
[Sat. numbers from ESPN]
