The Arizona-Pittsburgh matchup wasn’t considered an ideal one for television, but its finish riveted an estimated audience of 95.4 million people, second only to last year’s game as the most-watched Super Bowl ever.

The game was the third most-watched program in American television history, after the 106 million people who watched the “MAS*H” series finale in 1983 and the 97.4 million who watched the N.Y. Giants end the New England Patriots’ bid for an undefeated season in the 2008 Super Bowl.

“The Super Bowl, once again, proved its ability to capture America,” said Dick Ebersol, NBC Universal Sports chairman.