NBC intercepts ratings lead from usual champ CBS with the help of NFL playoffs

Football helps NBC intercept ratings lead from CBS

NEW YORK — Postseason football scored for NBC, ABC and Fox in the ratings last week, but CBS held its own with dramas and comedies.

The week’s most-watched telecast was the NFL playoff game between Philadelphia and Dallas. It drew 32.1 million viewers and helped lift NBC to an unaccustomed win in prime time for the week.

The BCS National Championship Game between Texas and Alabama gave ABC the second-ranked program of the week. Fox did well with the Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl.

But CBS had the most-watched scripted shows. They were “NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” and were ranked in fifth and sixth place.

NBC led overall with an average 10.3 million prime-time viewers. It was followed by Fox, CBS and ABC.

NBC’s “Nightly News” maintained its usual top spot among evening newscasts.