The NFL went two-for-two with six-year highs on the opening day of the playoffs.

Saturday’s Bills-Texans AFC Wild Card game averaged a 15.2 rating and 26.34 million viewers across ESPN and ABC, the highest for the early Saturday Wild Card window since 2014 on NBC (Chiefs-Colts: 16.0, 27.58M). Including coverage on ESPN Deportes, it averaged 26.41 million.

The Texans’ overtime win, which peaked with 35.45 million from 8-8:15 PM ET, increased 13% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (Colts-Texans: 13.5, 23.11M) and 17% and 19% respectively from 2018 (Titans-Chiefs: 13.0, 22.18M).

In particular, ABC averaged a 10.5 (+7%) and 18.13 million viewers (+8%) and ESPN a 4.7 (+30%) and 8.22 million (+35%).

Not counting the Super Bowl, it was the most-watched NFL game on the ESPN family of networks since at least 2001. The previous high was 26.32 million for a Falcons-Packers Wild Card game on ABC in 2003. It was the networks’ top sporting event of any kind since the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship (Alabama-Georgia: 28.44M).

Locally, the game averaged a 26.0 rating in Houston. Figures in Buffalo were not immediately available. Nashville was the top neutral market at a 23.5, followed by Kansas City (23.5), Norfolk, Va. (20.7) and Austin, Tex. and Philadelphia (20.2).

It averaged a combined 6.9 rating in adults 18-49 (+5%) and a 5.1 in adults 18-34 (no comparison available).

Both of Saturday’s games hit six-year highs. The Titans-Patriots nightcap delivered the largest Saturday Wild Card audience, regardless of timeslot, since 2014.

[Nielsen estimates from ESPN/ABC, ShowBuzz Daily 1.7 a, b]