This new record for the most-watched AFC Championship game was nearly 58 million, which is an increase of 2 million compared to last year's AFC title game, which previously held the viewership record. It also slightly surpassed last year's NFC Championship, which aired later in the day — typically a time slot that performs better overall.

Kansas City's win that put them a win away from a third straight Super Bowl title averaged 57.4 million viewers for CBS, according to the Sports Business Journal's Austin Karp. The number tops the previous AFC title game record of 55.5 million set during last year's game between the Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens.