As expected the Steelers victory over the Jets was a ratings winner for CBS. You had the top market in the NFL along with one of the most followed teams nationally and the combo translated into ratings gold for CBS.

Here are the early numbers:

CBS Sports’ coverage of the 2011 AFC Championship Game featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the New York Jets on Sunday, Jan. 23 (6:45-10:00 PM, ET), earned an average overnight household rating/share of 31.3/46.  This was the highest rating in the metered markets for the AFC Championship in 24 years (1987, 31.9 on NBC, DEN at CLE).   The Steelers-Jets rating was up 32% from a 23.8/37 in the comparable late-game window in 2009 with Pittsburgh defeating Baltimore and coverage was up 10% compared to its early-game broadcast of last year’s AFC Championship Game which saw Indianapolis beat the New York Jets (28.4/50).