The decision to move the Chiefs' AFC Divisional playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers to a night kickoff to avoid an expected ice storm resulted in a ratings winner for NBC.
The network said the 21.9 rating and 34 share for the game was best prime-time overnight for an NFL Wild Card or Divisional playoff game. It was up 8 percent from NBC's prime-time Divisional playoff game between the Packers and Cardinals on a Saturday last year.
In Kansas City, the ratings were 55.2/72. That means 55.2 percent of the eligible KC market was watching the game, which the Steelers won 18-16. And of the people who were watching TV on Sunday night, 72 percent tuned in to the game.
The Pittsburgh market was the No. 1 in ratings for the game (57.1/76), followed by Kansas City, Denver (28.5/46), Norfolk, Va. (27.8/40), Richmond, Va. (27.1/39), Dayton, Ohio (26.6/38), New Orleans (26.4/37), Baltimore (26.2/40), Phoenix (26.\0) and Las Vegas (25.2/39).
Given the success of the ratings, some have wondered if a Sunday night Divisional playoff game may become a permanent thing.
