2012 Super Bowl Ratings: Giants-Patriots Game Breaks Viewership Record

Read More: Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants at New England Patriots, Feb 5, 2012 5:30 PM CST

The 2012 Super Bowl will go down in history as not only an exciting and electric rematch between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, but it also has earned its place among the annals of television history as well:

Super Bowl XLVI was watched by an average of 111.3 million viewers, setting a new viewership record.

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) February 6, 2012

Giants 21-17 win in Super Bowl sets viewership record of 111.3 million up a notch from last year.

— Richard Sandomir (@RichSandomir) February 6, 2012

Super Bowl XLVI ended with an exciting 21-17 Giants win, and it rightly drew an unprecedented amount of viewers. The previous record of 111 million viewers came from last year's Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Despite the 2012 Super Bowl's colossal audience, however, the Nielsen rating record of 47.9 ( from the 2011 Super Bowl) still stands, as the 2012 Super Bowl managed only a near-record 47.8 rating.

For more on the Patriots and their Super Bowl run, check out SB Nation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit as well as SB Nation Boston. For more on the Giants and their Super Bowl appearance, visit Giants blog Big Blue View and SB Nation New York. For all news and information regarding Super Bowl XLVI, please stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated Super Bowl hub.