Patriots game is a winner for networks

The New England Patriots’ pursuit of perfection produced record ratings Saturday night on a trio of networks.

The unprecedented simulcast on the NFL Network, CBS and NBC averaged 34.5 million viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen estimates -- the largest audience for any telecast this season.

Three previous Patriots games on CBS this season had averaged 29 million viewers or more.

The game was the most-watched NFL regular-season contest since a Dallas-Kansas City matchup on Thanksgiving Day drew 35.7 million viewers on NBC in 1995.

Individual network breakouts were not available, but it’s likely that CBS -- which airs more Patriots games than any other network -- had an edge over NBC. The league invited both broadcast nets to carry the potentially historic game because the NFL Network is available in less than half of the country’s homes.

The Patriots, which outlasted the Giants, 38-35, to become the first team in 35 years to finish the regular season undefeated, will be back in prime time for their first playoff game -- against an opponent yet to be determined -- a week from Saturday on CBS.