Dallas Cowboys 44 Million Thanksgiving: 3rd-Biggest TV Audience Of NFL Regular-Season Game EVER

Dallas Cowboys 44 Million Thanksgiving: 3rd-Biggest TV Audience Of NFL Regular-Season Game EVER

In case anyone wonders why the Dallas Cowboys have a permanent spot on the NFL's Thanksgiving slate, look no further than the ratings of Thursday's game against the Washington Commanders.

Despite the Cowboys crushing their NFC East rival in a 45-10 blowout, the game still drew an astonishing amount of viewers as millions celebrated the holiday. According to CBS Sports PR, the game averaged 41.438 million viewers, the third-most of any regular-season game in NFL history. It also peaked with 44.265 million viewers.

NFL ON CBS delivers massive audience with 41.438 million viewers for the Cowboys' win over the Commanders on Thanksgiving.

Most-watched program on any network since Super Bowl LVII and the third-most watched NFL regular season game ever. pic.twitter.com/lRY69ViGfV

— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) November 24, 2023

The only regular-season games to draw a higher average viewer count were a 1990 Monday Night Football game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers (41.6 million) and last year's Thanksgiving game between the Cowboys and Giants (42.1 million).  

Just in case it wasn't apparent how astronomically high that number is, this game is the single most-viewed television program on any network since Super Bowl 57 in February. It is also the most-streamed game on Paramount+ since the service began airing games in 2016 (when it was known as CBS All Access).

Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland on his way to his NFL-record fifth pick six of the season during Thursday's game / © Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys are always always been a huge draw as the most popular team in the league, but this year, it feels as if they're breaking viewership records left and right. According to Sports Media Watch, the Cowboys have played in the most-viewed game of the week four times in 11 weeks (soon to be five times in 12 weeks). They've also played in the second-most-viewed game of the week an additional three times.

For the Cowboys and their fans, it was certainly a day to remember. Dak Prescott torched the Commanders defense for 331 yards and four touchdowns through the air, while DaRon Bland set the NFL record with his fifth pick six of the season. The fact that so many people saw those feats happen live only enhances the feeling of satisfaction.

Cowboys Rival Washington Commandes FIRE Defensive Coordinator

Viewership numbers for the other two Thanksgiving games have not been released yet, but it's hard to imagine them coming close to the Cowboys' dominant display.