Update: 2016 viewership numbers added to table below.
Yesterday I posted the overnight TV ratings (the first information available) for the same period, but here is the game viewership for the conference championship games from 2006-2015.
Of note, only two of the three most-watched conference championship games ever are in that time period: 2010’s Saints-Vikings overtime game which is the second most-watch of all time and 2012’s Giants-49ers game, which was the third most-watched of all time.
The most-watched of all time? Two words: “The Catch.” You have to go all the way back to 1982’s Cowboys-49ers NFC Championship that averaged 68.7 million viewers — nearly an 11 million viewer advantage over the Saints-Vikings game. Even with great games and lots of snow on the ground back east, it’s hard to imagine either of today’s game’s topping the 1982 classic. Also of note: the conference championship games in 1982 were played on January 10, a full two weeks earlier than this year’s games.
NFL Conference Championships TV Viewership 2006-2016:
| Year | Early Game | Network | Viewers (Millions) | Late Game | Network | Viewers (Millions) |
| 2016 | Patriots-Broncos | CBS | 53.3 | Cardinals-Panthers | Fox | 45.7 |
| 2015 | Seahawks-Packers | Fox | 49.8 | Patriots-Colts | CBS | 42.1 |
| 2014 | Broncos-Patriots | CBS | 51.3 | Seahawks-49ers | Fox | 55.9 |
| 2013 | 49ers-Falcons | Fox | 42.0 | Ravens-Patriots | CBS | 47.7 |
| 2012 | Patriots-Ravens | CBS | 48.7 | Giants-49ers | Fox | 57.6 |
| 2011 | Packers-Bears | Fox | 51.9 | Steelers-Jets | CBS | 54.9 |
| 2010 | Colts-Jets | CBS | 46.9 | Saints-Vikings | Fox | 57.9 |
| 2009 | Cardinals-Eagles | Fox | 38.4 | Steelers-Ravens | CBS | 40.6 |
| 2008 | Chargers-Patriots | CBS | 44.8 | Giants-Packers | Fox | 53.9 |
| 2007 | Saints-Bears | Fox | 43.3 | Patriots-Colts | CBS | 46.7 |
| 2006 | Steelers-Broncos | CBS | 39.0 | Panthers-Seahawks | Fox | 35.2 |