Bills-Chiefs game shatters record for most-watched NFL Divisional Playoff Game ever with more than 56 million viewers

The Kansas City Chiefs won the game against the Buffalo Bills, 27-24.

Bills-Chiefs game shatters record for most-watched NFL Divisional Playoff Game ever with more than 56 million viewers

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills (via Sports Illustrated)

The Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills Divisional Round game on Sunday was one of the most anticipated games of the playoffs. It was a game between two of the best teams in the AFC, led by two of the best QBs in the league in Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. The Chiefs came into the game with a 2-0 record against Allen and Bills in the playoffs.

This was the Bills’ chance to break that record and win their first playoff game against Mahomes and company. They had the added advantage of playing at home. However, the Chiefs had different ideas as they edged out the Bills in thrilling fashion and won the game, 27-24. A high-stakes game between these two teams was bound to generate views, and it did.

YouTube video

CBS reports that 50 million people watched the game. That is a significant increase over the previously disclosed figures. Additionally, it significantly alters the percentages.

FS Video

The previous time these two teams faced off in the divisional round, on the same network, at the same time, the average viewership was 42.7 million. As a result, CBS claims that what at first glance appeared to be an 8.6-percent decline over the January 2022 game was actually a 17-percent increase.

The NFC Championship game and the AFC Championship game take place on Sunday. San Francisco 49ers–Philadelphia Eagles averaged 47.5 million during the early window last year, while Cincinnati Bengals-Kansas City Chiefs averaged 53.12 million during the later window.

“Worst rule in football” attracts headlines after the Kansas City Chiefs-Buffalo Bills game

After the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs playoff game on Sunday night, the fumble rule—dubbed “the worst in football”—is back in the news. Mecole Hardman, a Chiefs receiver, fumbled the ball in the fourth quarter as he was being brought down short of a touchdown; the ball bounced into the end zone and then out of bounds.

Mecole Hardman fumble
Mecole Hardman fumble (via ESPN)

A fumble out of bounds anywhere else on the field save the end zone would have allowed Kansas to keep possession at the point of the fumble, but this instead led to a touchback and a turnover in favor of the Bills.

More complaints about the rule were made on Sunday night after the incident, with ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler even suggesting that the rule will be repealed in the offseason. Now that the rule appears to be coming to an end, we will need to monitor any changes during the offseason.

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