Packers-49ers game averages 37.5 million viewers, earns highest Saturday ratings in 30 years

The ratings from Saturday’s Divisional Round matchup between the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers are in and they are historic. The game, broadcast on FOX, had the highest ratings of any program on a Saturday in 30 years. Averaging 37.5 million viewers, more people watched the 49ers’ victory over the Packers than any event on a Saturday since the 1994 Winter Olympics.

The playoff game, which came down to a Jordan Love interception on the Packers’ final drive, was a back-and-forth affair. That’s why viewership peaked late in the game at 40.9 million viewers.

It was a whopping 31% increase in viewership over the same playoff game in the same timeslot last season. That game was between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.

Quite a few people tuned in to watch the 48-32 victory for the Green Bay Packers in a Wild Card Playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. According to Nielsen fast-nationals, the FOX broadcast averaged 40 million viewers to rank as the fifth most-watched Wild Card game ever and the most-watched since 2015. It was the second most-watched of the NFL season.

With the victory, the 49ers now move on to the NFC Championship game against the Detroit Lions.

Peacock earns largest streaming audience ever with Chiefs-Dolphins

NBC made a lot of NFL fans made by putting the Chiefs-Dolphins playoff game on their Peacock streaming platform – exclusively. Well, the gamble paid off. After the ratings came in, the network celebrated, calling it the “most streamed event ever” with 23 million viewers.

The Chiefs and Dolphins game on Peacock wasn’t really close. Kansas City ended up winning 26-7, thanks to a dominant showing from their defense. The Chiefs held the Dolphins to just seven points and they basically shut down Tyreek Hill–one of the most explosive receivers in league history. Hill hauled in just five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. Chiefs corner L’Jarius Sneed did a remarkable job on him.

Kansas City got an excellent performance from Rashee Rice, who hauled in eight catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. Patrick Mahomes had a decent game, completing 23 of 41 passes for 262 yards, while tossing in a touchdown. Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had 24 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Despite the cost, fans were lucky they could watch it on Peacock, rather than have to be in Kansas City. The game featured some of the coldest weather of any game in NFL history.

On3’s Wade Peery contributed to this report.