With a 36-17 victory over the Steelers, the Patriots are the 2016 AFC Champions. Â Check out photos from the postgame celebration.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -With a 36-17 victory Sunday night versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots have advanced to their NFL-record ninth Super Bowl overall and eighth Super Bowl appearance since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, the most in the league over that span. Their ninth conference championship victory captured an impressive ratings haul, making it the second highest household rating ever in team history for a non-Super Bowl performance.
WBZ's Sunday evening broadcast received a household rating of 51.6, making it the second highest rated non-Super Bowl performance in team history, behind only their 41-27 victory in the 2004 AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh on January 23, 2005. The market share of 73 was the second-highest non-Super Bowl share of the past five seasons.
Once again the Patriots victory took the top spot in Boston market weekly television ratings. Nationally on CBS, the victory grabbed a 27.6 household rating with a market share of 53, defeating FOX's coverage of the NFC Championship between the Green Bay Packers and the Atlanta Falcons.
The Patriots will take the stage for their final performance of the season in two weeks as they square off against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston. The 6:30 p.m. kickoff will be broadcast on FOX with Joe Buck calling the play-by-play accompanied by color commentary from Troy Aikman and sideline reporting from Erin Andrews and Chris Myers.
| **Game** | **Date** | **Household Rating** | **Market Share** |
| Patriots at Steelers | 1/23/2005 | 52.0 | 67 |
| Patriots vs. Steelers | **1/22/2017** | **51.6** | **73** |
| Patriots vs. Jaguars | 1/12/1997 | 51.0 | 71 |
| Patriots vs. Ravens | 1/22/2012 | 50.9 | 78.2 |
| Patriots at Colts | 1/21/2007 | 50.9 | 68 |
