Chiefs vs. Broncos Sets TNF Record for Most Combined CBS, NFL Network Viewers

It's safe to assume that there was plenty to talk about around the water cooler Friday morning. 

Football fans watched the Denver Broncos' dramatic 31-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night in record numbers, according to the Sports Business Journal's John Ourand:

Thursday's game blew away the rest of the evening's programming, as Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post points out:

"

Thursday night’s prime-time coverage of the game beat the combined delivery of NBC, ABC and FOX by 90 percent (6.8/12). And CBS’ and NFL Network’s overnight rating/share of 12.9/23 in primetime beat each of the broadcast networks by a wide margin: 1,333 percent better than FOX (0.9/2), 461 percent better than ABC (2.3/4) and 258 percent better than NBC (3.6/6).

"

The opening game of Week 2 looks to have followed the trend set by the NFL during its Week 1 opening games. According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, the NFL had 19.9 million average viewers per game, the most ever for a Week 1. 

The record number of viewers Thursday night were treated to the resurgence of Peyton Manning, who helped lead the Broncos back from a 14-point deficit to tie the game at 24 in the final minute.

In shocking fashion, with 36 seconds left on the clock, Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles coughed up the football on the 21-yard-line. Bradley Roby then picked it up and returned it for a touchdown.

The New York Giants and Washington Redskins have a tough act to follow next Thursday night, but with the game's popularity always expanding, TNF should enjoy solid viewing numbers for the foreseeable future. And a game like the Broncos and Chiefs should keep them coming back for more.