The NFL averaged 43.4 million viewers for championship weekend (NFC and AFC title games), up 3% from 41.9 million last year, but down from 49.2 million two seasons ago. The two games had an average minute audience of 1.5 million viewers on streaming properties, up 47% from '20 and up 86% from '19. With TV and streaming combined, the weekend averaged 44.3 million, up 3% from '20. Buccaneers-Packers led the way, with Fox averaging 44.8 million viewers. That marks the best NFC title game since Falcons-Packers averaged 46.3 million in the afternoon window in ’17. Last year, 49ers-Packers in the primetime window averaged just under 43 million. Bucs-Packers also is up from 44.1 million two seasons ago in the afternoon window on Fox (Rams-Saints).
CBS averaged 41.8 million for Chiefs-Bills in primetime, up from 41.1 million for Chiefs-Titans last season. Two seasons ago in primetime, the Patriots-Chiefs game that went into overtime averaged 53.9 million -- the second-best AFC title game on record.
In terms of Tom Brady’s 14 conference championship appearances since he entered the league, Bucs-Packers (44.77 million) ranks No. 9, just behind Patriots-Chargers from '08 (44.84 million). Brady’s best AFC title game with the Pats was that '19 game, followed by two matchups against the Peyton Manning-led Broncos in ’16 and ’14.
