The Taylor Swift Effect? Travis Kelce's Chiefs vs. Bills Game Is Most Watched NFL Divisional Playoff Game Ever
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills' game Sunday has secured its place as the most-viewed NFL divisional playoff game ever, according to CBS.
Taylor Swift notably watched her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his team win, 27-24, at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York -- a victory that earned them a coveted spot in the upcoming AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens.
CBS said in a press release that viewership for Sunday's clash exceeded all expectations, marking the first time an NFL divisional playoff game has surpassed 50 million viewers.
The average viewership throughout the game stood at an impressive 50.39 million, reaching a peak of over 56 million, according to the network.
In addition, this game is not only the most-watched program of any network since February 2023's Super Bowl LVII but also Paramount+'s most-streamed live event to date.
According to CBS, the Chiefs-Bills game witnessed a notable uptick of 10% compared to a similar window last year and set a new record that surpassed the previous high of 48.52 million viewers for Cowboys-Packers in 2017.
While Swift may not be directly responsible for the ratings boost, her relationship with Kelce has been previously associated with an increase in NFL ticket sales and viewership.
In September last year, ticket sales for a Chiefs game rose 40% after Swift was first spotted attending one of Kelce's matches, CNN Business reported.
NBC also announced in October 2023 that the Chiefs' victory over the New York Jets that month was the most-watched Sunday NFL show since Super Bowl LVII.
However, Swift's presence at NFL games has not been without controversy.
Some sports fans have criticized the extensive coverage and mentions of the singer during games, claiming it distracts attention from the on-field action.
Kelce himself acknowledged the heightened coverage on his podcast in October 2023, saying that the NFL might be "overdoing it a little bit."
In response to the criticism, the NFL defended its coverage, emphasizing the intersection of sports and entertainment.
Swift also expressed her lack of control over the coverage during her Time Person of the Year interview. She explained that she attends games solely to support Kelce and remains unaware of the extent to which she appears on broadcasts.
Despite the criticism, Swift appears to bring good luck to Kelce and the Chiefs.
According to People, out of the 11 games Swift has attended, the team has emerged victorious in eight.
