NFL TV Ratings 2023: Chiefs vs. Bengals Is Most-Watched Event Since Super Bowl LVI

The 2023 AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals lived up to the hype, both on the field and in the TV ratings. The Chiefs' 23-20 victory was the most watched television event since last year's Super Bowl.

An average of 53.124 million people watched the Chiefs beat the Bengals on CBS in primetime. The game peaked with 59.374 million viewers. It marked the most-watched conference championship game since 2019, when the New England Patriots beat Kansas City for a trip to the Super Bowl.

Kansas City drew a 54.3 local rating for the AFC title game. How does that compare to the team's appearance in the game over the last few years on CBS?

2022: 54.2 (vs Bengals)
2021: 61.9 (vs. Bills)
2020: 55.7 (vs Titans)
2019: 60.1 (vs. Patriots) https://t.co/hbxkbZtwZQ
— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) January 31, 2023

NFL ON CBS caps off record-setting season with the most-watched NFL Conference Championship Game in 4 years.

AFC Championship Game delivered 53.124 million viewers and peaked with nearly 60 million viewers.

Full release: https://t.co/bPwu329upF pic.twitter.com/lT95S5BD14
— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) January 31, 2023

Just north of 99 million people watched the Los Angeles Rams beat the Bengals on Fox in Super Bowl LVI.

The 2023 NFC Championship Game drew an average of 47.5 million viewers on Fox. Viewership peaked with 52.3 million viewers between 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET when the Philadelphia Eagles were pulling away from the San Francisco 49ers to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. It was Fox's most-watched TV event since the Rams beat the 49ers in last year's NFC Championship Game.

The Eagles routed the 49ers 31-7. San Francisco wasn't very competitive once both Brock Purdy and backup quarterback Josh Johnson suffered injuries, forcing the 49ers to run the ball on just about every play.

per @CBSSportsGang, Sunday's AFC Championship Game is the 'most-watched TV program on any network since Super Bowl LVI with 53.124 million viewers'

It peaked with ~60 million viewers pic.twitter.com/22hWAZLZlu
— Sportico (@Sportico) January 31, 2023

The @Eagles victory during Sunday's #NFCChampionship on FOX delivered 47.5 million viewers🤯

✔️FOX's most-watched telecast of any kind since last year's NFC Championship
✔️Peaked at 52.3 million viewers from 5:15-5:30 PM ET
✔️Second most-streamed NFL game in FOX Sports history pic.twitter.com/89phAXnUgT
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) January 31, 2023

The outcome between the Chiefs and Bengals was in doubt until Harrison Butker nailed a game-winning field goal with three seconds left in regulation. It was a one-score game for the entirety of the third and fourth quarters. The score was tied for nearly two-thirds of the second half.

Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow squared off in a battle of what many believe is the two best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Football fans have not yet experienced any fatigue regarding the Chiefs. Mahomes and Kansas City have hosted five straight AFC Championship Games. This year's contest was a rematch of last year's title game and the fourth matchup between the Bengals and Chiefs in less than 13 months.

The Chiefs and Eagles will undoubtedly make the Super Bowl the most-watched TV program of 2023. Kickoff time is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox. The game will be played Sunday, Feb. 12, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.