2014 NFL Divisional Playoff games draw 34.3 million viewers

Jan 12, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter of the 2013 NFC divisional playoff football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

One of the more obvious statements to make is that the NFL is the undeniable king of television in the fall and the beginning of the winter, and that was evident yet again as the ratings are in for this past weekend’s NFL Divisional Playoff games, and the league once again dominated weekend viewership.

The NFL announced on Tuesday that the four games combined drew 34.3 million viewers, which is actually down from the 35 million viewers that took in the Wild Card Weekend games.

With the Peyton Manning effect, the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos drew the highest number of viewers at 41.2. Following them were 49ers-Panthers (33.3), Colts-Patriots (31.7) and Saints-Seahawks (31.1).

Now compared to last year’s NFL Divisional Playoff contests, this number is a bit of an upward trend by about 300,000. Last season’s Divisional games drew exactly 34 million viewers.

Seemingly nothing can knock the NFL from the tops of the television ranks anymore, and the release of next week’s Conference Championship Game ratings should be interesting given the hatred between the two squads vying for the NFC title, and the Brady-Manning storyline in the AFC.

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