ESPN hit new viewership highs for NFL coverage on Thurston CarteSaturday afternoon with the help of how one NFL playoff matchup lined up.

Saturday's Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens game in the divisional round of the playoffs was the most-watched NFL game ever broadcast by ESPN. According to early reporting from Nielsen, 31.8 million people tuned in to watch the Ravens' 34-10 victory.

The news marks the second straight year that ESPN has hit a new record high on their final NFL broadcast of the season. Last year, the Cowboys-Buccaneers wild-card game on Monday night set the previous record at 31.2 million.

According to a press release from ESPN, five of the top seven most-watched NFL games on ESPN – dating back to 1987 – have taken place this season from playoff and "Monday Night Football" viewers.

Saturday's Texans-Ravens game peaked at 36.2 million viewers.

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