NBC, ESPN set network records for divisional-round games

Field Level Media|published: Thu 22nd January, 13:27 2026

Jan 18, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter of an NFC Divisional Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

NBC and ESPN/ABC followed CBS' lead by drawing record numbers for their respective NFL divisional-round games.

On Thursday, NBC announced that it averaged 45.4 million viewers for the Los Angeles Rams' 20-17 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears.

That number from Sunday's game represented an 8% increase from a comparable contest in last year's playoffs.

It also marked the most-watched NFL divisional-round broadcast in the network's history, surpassing a 1994 game when the Kansas City Chiefs rallied with a 21-point fourth quarter to earn a 28-20 victory over the then-Houston Oilers.

Earlier on Sunday, the New England Patriots secured a 28-16 victory over the visiting Houston Texans in an AFC divisional-round game that averaged 37.9 million viewers on ESPN and ABC. That served as the most-watched event in ESPN history, dating back to the network's launch in 1979. It's also the best for any sporting event on ABC outside of a Super Bowl.

The Texans-Patriots game peaked at 44.9 million late in the second half, per ESPN.

CBS drew its best Saturday audience for an NFL contest when an average of 39.6 million viewers tuned into watch the Denver Broncos' 33-30 overtime victory over the visiting Buffalo Bills.

The game peaked at 51.3 million viewers while in overtime, making it the most-watched Saturday program on any network since the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

--Field Level Media

Latest