NFL playoff game is most-watched show on Nickelodeon in 4 years
Expanding their horizons to attempt to capture a younger viewing audience, the National Football League aired a “kid-friendly” broadcast of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Game between the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears on Nickelodeon, as well as their traditional feed on CBS.
According to early returns, this decision looks like it paid off, as the game drew in 2.061 million viewers, making it the most-viewed program on Nickelodeon in nearly four years.
CBS says the Saints-Bears drew 30.653 million viewers on Sunday (28.592M on CBS; 2.061M on Nickelodeon).
That Nickelodeon number exceeds what I believe those execs expected.
It is the most-viewed show on Nickelodeon in nearly four years.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 12, 2021
Held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Saints topped the Bears, 21-9.
Possessing the football for nearly 39 minutes, former Purdue Boilermaker Drew Brees completed 28-of-39 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns, the first to ex-Ohio State Buckeye Michael Thomas.
Tennessee Volunteer Alvin Kamara nearly reached the century mark on the ground, finishing with 99 yards, and added two receptions for 17 yards.
Despite the losing effort, Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, a North Carolina Tar Heel, was named the game’s Nickelodeon Valuable Player (NVP), which was voted on by the fans.
Trubisky, a fourth-year player, connected on 19-of-29 attempts for 199 yards and a score to Miami Hurricane Jimmy Graham on the final play of the contest.
Former Penn State Nittany Lion Allen Robinson was Chicago’s leading receiver, hauling in six passes for 55 yards.
New Orleans will now host ex-Michigan Wolverine Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round at 6:40 p.m. ET on Sunday on FOX.