The AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens garnered the most views an AFC Championship Game has ever seen, according to CBS.
With over 55 million viewers, the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens saw a 17% increase in viewership over last year’s AFC Championship Game. The Previous most-viewed AFC Championship game came when the New York Jets took on the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011.
The Jets lost to the Steelers in a 24-19 defeat. The New York viewership pushed the viewing numbers for that game to just under 55 million viewers.
Taylor Swift plays a significant part in the increased viewership for the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens AFC Championship Game
Taylor Swift, the girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, attended a Chiefs game once again. Since attending Chiefs games and become an active part in the NFL football machine, Swift has generated $331 million for the Chiefs and the NFL, according to Apex Market Group.
Swift is one of the most massive pop stars in the world, and she has brought with her an allegiance of dedicated fans that are likely new to watching football consistently.
Am I the only one who is still trying to process that the Chiefs won the AFC Championship and Taylor Swift finally got to just openly love on her man and Travis Kelce was just openly loving on her right back?
If there weren’t so many videos of it, I’d swear it was just a dream. pic.twitter.com/zGLxH5Ase2— Da🦦Otterside (@DaOtterside) January 29, 2024
In an article from Market Watch, the president of Apex Marketing Group Eric Smallwood explains why the situation is so profitable for all of those that are involved.
“It’s really a perfect situation because you have this massive concert tour that took place [by] a superstar singer, and you meld that with a guy in the NFL, a top-name athlete in the NFL [who] is semi high-profile, and he got a lot of commercials [and is] well-respected,” Eric Smallwood, president of Apex Marketing Group, told MarketWatch in a telephone interview on Monday.
After Swift attended her first Chiefs game in December, jersey sales for Travis Kelce’s No. 87 increased by nearly 400%.
Taylor Swift is the greatest NFL marketing gimmick of all time.
After the whole Kaepernick kneeling debacle + fallout of years ago and fans abandoning the NFL, they needed a new demographic.
But I NEVER would’ve guessed it would be…Swifties. 🤣
— Liberty Belle (@iLibertyBelle) January 28, 2024
The Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens AFC Championship Game had compelling storylines outside of Taylor Swift
One of the most compelling storylines of the season involved Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson, who is on pace to become an MVP for the second time, has yet to take the Ravens past the AFC Championship Game.
This year was the first year he was able to get his team this far. Jackson’s playoff record moved to 2-4 after this season. He has never won a playoff game in which the other team scored more than 13 points. Jackson had two costly turnovers that may have costed the Ravens a trip to the Super Bowl in another poor postseason showing.
LAMAR JACKSON FUMBLE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xd3U2q7LOV
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) January 28, 2024
Season on the line.
It’s now or never.
Lamar: “TRIPLE COVERAGE TRUZZ”
— PickensBurgh🫡 (Tino) (@PickensBurgh) January 28, 2024
The game also featured legacy-defining moments for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. Mahomes made good on his opportunity to take the Chiefs to their fourth Super Bowl in five years, while Kelce continued to cement his argument for being the greatest tight end in the history of the NFL.
This throw by Mahomes to Kelce is not being talked about enough! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KXYLVMYuTs
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) January 30, 2024
This angle of the Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce catch is absolutely ridiculous! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/mdgewXtOmc
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) January 29, 2024
Mahomes had just nine incompletions on 39 attempts while Kelce amassed 116 yards receiving on 11 receptions. The two connected for the only passing touchdown the Chiefs had. Kelce passed San Francisco 49ers legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice for the most postseason receptions with 152.
While Taylor Swift certainly played a large part in the increase in viewership, the growing brand of the Kansas City Chiefs and the narrative behind Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson contributed to the record-breaking numbers.
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