AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BOASTS RECORD TV RATINGS

All of the talk of the NFL somehow dying over the entire national anthem controversy can pretty much is laid to rest.

NFL Championship Sunday was one heck of an experience for fans around the league. Both games brought a ton of drama to the mix — each one going to overtime before the Rams and Patriots earned their trip to the Super Bowl.

It was the Patriots’ win over Kansas City that had everyone buzzing. So it’s not too much of a surprise that the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead was the second-most watched conference title game of the past 40-plus years.

2019: Pats-Chiefs: 53.9 million viewers (CBS, late game)

CBS says it is the second-most watched AFC Championship Game in 42 years (CBS records go back to the 1977-78 NFL season).

NFL Championship Game viewership:

2018: Pats-Jaguars: 44.082 million (CBS, early game)
2018: Eagles-Vikings: 42.298 million (Fox, late game)

2017: Pats-Steelers: 48.0M (CBS, late game)
2017: Pack-Falcons: 46.3M (Fox, early game).

That really is some crazy tuff right there.

Given that CBS records go back only 42 years, there’s a good chance that this was the second-most watched AFC Championship Game in history.

A lot of this has to do with Tom Brady and Co. continuing to dominate fellow conference competition. Even then, it’s a clear sign that the NFL is as popular as ever.