An AFC Championship rematch scored one of the NFL’s highest ratings since its early-decade boom.

Sunday’s NFL national window (Chiefs-Patriots in 83% of markets) averaged a 16.1 rating and 28.11 million viewers on CBS, trailing only Cowboys-Patriots on FOX in Week 12 (16.5) as the league’s highest rated regular season window since 2016 (mostly Cowboys-Steelers: 16.4).

No CBS window has had a higher rating since 2015 (Patriots-Giants: 16.3).

The telecast, which included Steelers-Cardinals and Titans-Raiders, also averaged the fourth-largest regular season audience since 2016 (Washington-Dallas: 35.11M). The top three are Cowboys-Patriots (29.47M) and a pair of Thanksgiving games: Bills-Cowboys on CBS this year (32.64M) and Washington-Dallas on FOX last year (30.52M).

It was just the third regular season window in the past four seasons to top a 16.0 rating and the seventh to exceed 28 million viewers. That compares to 19 each over the previous four (2012-15).

In addition to the overall marks, it ranks as the highest rated and most-watched Week 14 NFL window since 2015 (Cowboys-Packers: 16.5, 28.88M).

Ratings and viewership increased 13% and 12% respectively from Week 14 last year (mostly Eagles-Cowboys: 14.2, 25.12M) and 18% from 2017 (mostly Eagles-Rams: 13.7, 23.78M).

Of the 14 national windows this season, ten have increased in ratings and 11 have done so in viewership.

In other action, CBS averaged a 7.6 (-16%) and 12.59 million (-17%) for regional coverage featuring Ravens-Bills in 68% of markets.

The early window averaged a 3.3 rating in adults 18-49 (-18%) and the late window a 7.1 (+2%).

CBS is now averaging 17.71 million viewers for NFL coverage this season (+8%), its highest through 14 weeks since 2016 (17.91M).

Highest rated/most-watched NFL regular season windows, 2016-present

Highest rated Most-watched # Year Game TV Rtg # Year Game TV Vwrs 1 2019 NE-DAL FOX 16.5 1 2016 WSH-DAL FOX 35.11M 2 2016 DAL-PIT (92%) FOX 16.4 2 2019 BUF-DAL CBS 32.64M 3 2019 KC-NE (83%) CBS 16.1 3 2018 WSH-DAL FOX 30.52M 4 2016 DAL-GB (86%) FOX 15.8 4 2019 DAL-NE FOX 29.47M 5 2016 NYG-DAL (90%) FOX 15.5 5 2016 DAL-PIT (92%) FOX 28.88M 6 2017 PIT-NE CBS 15.2 6 2019 KC-NE (83%) CBS 28.11M 7 2016 DAL-NYG NBC 14.9 7 2016 DAL-GB (86%) FOX 28.01M 8 2016 CAR-DEN NBC 14.6 8 2016 MIN-DET CBS 27.61M 2016 WSH-DAL FOX 14.5 9 2016 NYG-DAL (90%) FOX 27.53M T10 2017 DAL-DEN (81%) FOX 14.4 10 2019 CHI-DET CBS 27.09M 2016 SEA-GB (67%) FOX

[Nielsen estimates from CBS Sports, ShowBuzz Daily 12.10]