CBS Sports has been at the center of the NFL playoff spotlight this postseason-and not just because of the action on the field. Two of the most thrilling matchups of the 2025 season aired on the network, both featuring the Buffalo Bills in games that were as dramatic as they were controversial.
First, there was the Bills’ wild-card clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Then came the divisional-round showdown with the Denver Broncos-a game that had everything: high stakes, big plays, a quarterback injury, and a finish that had fans and analysts alike buzzing.
In a game that demanded overtime to decide a winner, Denver edged out Buffalo 33-30 in a thriller that ended with more questions than answers. Bo Nix, the Broncos’ rookie quarterback, was at the center of the action before a season-ending injury cut his night short. Even so, he helped guide Denver to the AFC Championship Game before exiting, capping off a rookie campaign that had already exceeded expectations.
But it wasn’t just the scoreboard that lit up-it was the controversy that followed. In the final moments of overtime, Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillan was credited with an interception on a play that, in real time, looked like a completed pass to Brandin Cooks.
The call stood, and the Bills’ hopes were dashed. Head coach Sean McDermott didn’t hold back in his postgame comments, criticizing the officiating in no uncertain terms.
Days later, McDermott was out as head coach-a stunning end to his tenure in Buffalo.
Off the field, CBS’s top broadcast duo, Jim Nantz and Tony Romo, found themselves under the microscope as well. Their commentary has drawn a fair share of scrutiny this season, but if viewership is any indication, fans are still tuning in.
The Bills-Broncos broadcast pulled in a staggering 39.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched Saturday NFL playoff game in CBS history. It also became the most-watched Saturday telecast on any network since the 1994 Winter Olympics.
At its peak, during overtime, the game drew 51.2 million viewers.
That kind of audience doesn’t happen by accident. Between the high-stakes drama, the officiating controversy, and the star power-on the field and in the booth-this game had all the ingredients of a ratings juggernaut.
Next up for CBS: the AFC Championship Game, where the Broncos, now without Nix, will face the New England Patriots. Even with Denver’s young quarterback sidelined, this matchup carries serious intrigue. The Patriots are surging, and the Broncos, battle-tested and riding the momentum of an emotional win, are out to prove they can keep rolling.
One thing’s for sure: CBS has another massive game on its hands. And if the last two weeks are any indication, fans won’t want to miss a second.