The New Orleans Saints' 26-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on the final play of the prime-time NFC wild card Saturday posted a 20.5/33 overnight, up 12 percent from last year (18.3/30 for Green Bay's 24-10 win over Minnesota) and the second-best overnight ever for a prime-time wild card game. The NFC wild card (8:15-11:15 p.m. ET) overnight rating peaked at a 22.2/36 for the game's climactic finish from11-11:15 p.m. ET.
The 20.5/33 overnight for the Saints' first road playoff victory in franchise history – led by quarterback Drew Brees (10 for 12 for 152 yards and a touchdown in the second half) and kicker Shayne Graham (four field goals, including the game winner as time expired) – ranked second among prime-time NFL wild card games behind NBC's telecast of the New York Jets' 17-16 defeat of the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 8, 2011 (20.8/33) on a field goal on the last play of what would be Peyton Manning's final game as Colts QB.
Top 10 Metered Markets for Eagles-Saints:
- New Orleans, 55.8/74
- Philadelphia, 42.0/60
- Richmond, 27.3/40
- Denver, 26.9/43
- Seattle 26.7/45
- Sacramento, 26.4/41
- Greensboro, 24.8/35
- Memphis, 24.4/34
- Charlotte, 24.0/37
- Baltimore, 24.0/36
- San Diego, 24.0/43
