CBS Sports’ coverage of the 2014 AFC Championship Game featuring the Denver Broncos defeating the New England Patriots on Sunday, Jan. 19 (3:00-6:15 PM, ET), earned an average overnight household rating/share of 29.5/52, which is the second-highest rating in the metered markets for an AFC Championship in 27 years (1/11/87; 31.9 HH rating; Denver-Cleveland -OT; NBC).

The 29.5/52 is up 13% from the early-game window last year (26.1/48; San Francisco-Atlanta), and up 6% from last year’s 27.9/42 for Baltimore-New England, which aired in the late window.

This year’s AFC Championship Game rating peaked at a 32.8/55 from 5:30-6:00 PM, ET.

* * * * *