NFL Ratings’ Dominance Is Stronger Than Ever After the Divisional Round Games

Also in Traina Thoughts: Huge ‘Monday Night Raw’ changes; NBA coach rips his team; Embiid leaves Durant stunned and more.

1. Everybody knows the NFL is king, but the crown just keeps getting shinier and shinier.

And rivalry games with star power are VERY good for business.

Sunday night’s classic between the Chiefs and Bills averaged 50.3 million viewers for CBS. It is now the most-watched divisional playoff game ever.

Last year’s Sunday night divisional playoff game featured the Niners and Cowboys, and drew 45.6 million viewers. 

Generating nearly five million viewers more than a game involving the ratings-potent Cowboys shows that NFL fans are thirstier than ever for action.

Three of the four time slots this weekend featured viewership gains over 2023. The only slot that was down was the early Saturday window. Texans-Ravens drew 31.8 million viewers on ABC/ESPN, while Chiefs-Jagaurs landed 34.3 million viewers on NBC in that timeslot in 2023.

The combination of Patrick Mahomes being the best quarterback in the NFL and one of the best quarterbacks of all time combined with the Chiefs being in the midst of a dynasty clearly intrigues NFL fans.

Here’s how this season’s divisional playoff games compare to last year’s.

2023

Saturday afternoon, Chiefs-Jaguars, NBC: 34.3 million
Saturday night: Giants-Eagles, Fox: 28.6
Sunday afternoon: Bengals-Bills, CBS: 39.3 million
Sunday night, Cowboys-Niners, Fox: 45.6 million

2024

Saturday afternoon, Texans-Ravens, ABC/ESPN: 31.8 million
Saturday night, Packers-Niners, Fox: 37.5 million
Sunday afternoon, Bucs-Lions, NBC: 40.4 million
Sunday night, Chiefs-Bills, CBS: 50.3 million

2. After decades of airing on the USA Network, WWE’s Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix beginning in 2025. The deal is reportedly for $5 billion over 10 years. However, there are caveats.

Netflix has the option to cancel the 10-year deal with WWE after just 5 years, and has the option to extend the deal for an additional 10 years, according to a filing from TKO.

Meaning the WWE-Netflix term could end up being 5 years, 10 years, or 20 years -- whichever Netflix… pic.twitter.com/JXNAyIHEB7

— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) January 23, 2024

One prediction from me: The outlet that airs Monday Night Raw won’t be the only thing that changes.

I think the WWE wants to get away from competing against Monday Night Football and I would expect the company’s flagship show to move to Tuesdays.

3. While everyone was captivated by Joel Embiid scoring 70 points Monday night, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 62 for the Timberwolves. The only problem was that Minnesota lost to the Charlotte Hornets.

After the game, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch ripped his team in a way you rarely see these days, with Finch sharply criticizing his players for getting caught up with feeding Towns.

Chris Finch: "It was an absolute disgusting performance of defense and immature basketball all the way through the game... This is what happens when you have this type of approach." pic.twitter.com/fIjNdk4K7V

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 23, 2024

4. Regarding that Embiid 70-point game, Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant had a great reaction when he found out about the monster night from the Philadelphia Sixers’ center.

I love watching Kevin Durant post-game pressers because his love of basketball shows through, and there are moments where someone asks him something that really gets the hoop fan in him (that also happens to be a basketball genius) going.

Loved this reaction and answer. pic.twitter.com/W1fXt5RjKa

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) January 23, 2024

5. I failed you yesterday. I gave you four calls of Tyler Bass’s missed field goal Sunday. I gave you Jim Nantz on CBS, Kevin Harlan on Westwood One radio and the local Buffalo and Kansas City calls. However, I did not provide you with the Korean call. 

Hopefully after hearing it today, you will forgive me for omitting it Monday.

The Korean call of the Bills missed FG is priceless!!!pic.twitter.com/nWlotAWUpv

— Sportskeeda Pro Football (@SKProFootball) January 22, 2024

6. The latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina features a conversation with Fox’s lead NFL broadcast booth, Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen.

Olsen shares his opinion on the Eagles’ epic collapse, the Cowboys’ decision to retain Mike McCarthy as head coach, the emergence of Packers quarterback Jordan Love and the dominance of Niners running back Christian McCaffrey.

The duo also talks about calling an unusual amount of blowouts and a low number of close games this past regular season, whether they prepare for games any differently in the postseason, why it’s frustrating that fans think they root for anything other than close games, whether they’ve thought about their time as a team winding down with Tom Brady expected to take over Olsen’s role next season and much more.

Following Burkhardt and Olsen, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, we talk about the best NFL broadcast teams, the Peacock playoff game and more.

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.

You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: This email came in Monday from reader Dominic Turco: “Good afternoon, Jimmy. Thanks for another good Traina Thoughts today. As a Seinfeld fan, I am sure that you saw the news of the recent passing of Peter Crombie, who played “Crazy Joe Divola” on the show. If you could include a video of his scenes on the show, that would be appreciated. Thanks for your continued good work. Have a nice day.”

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.