The Dallas Cowboys’ game against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving featured a 4-7 team with its backup quarterback facing a 2-9 team at its third-string linebacker. As usual, NFL fans couldn’t get enough.
The second of three Thanksgiving Day games on Thursday drew an average of 38.5 million viewers, according to Fox Sports, making it the most-watched NFL game on any network this regular season. Viewership reportedly peaked at 41.3 million viewers during the second quarter.
Ratings for the Chicago Bears-Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins-Green Bay Packers games have not yet been released.
Pass the turducken! 🦃
The @DallasCowboys The Thanksgiving win on FOX drew 38.5 million viewers and projects to be the most-watched NFL telecast of the regular season on any network.
The game peaked at 41.3 million viewers from 6:00 PM to 6:15 PM ET. pic.twitter.com/7Uce1TVONP
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) November 29, 2024
These numbers continue a simple rule of thumb in sports media: while other leagues are doing everything they can to resist the erosion of ratings that has afflicted the rest of the television industry, the NFL is just watching its numbers go up.
The millions who tuned in didn’t exactly get the best of the NFL. The Cowboys were still starting Cooper Rush at quarterback with Dak Prescott injured, while the Giants had Drew Lock after the release of Daniel Jones and the injury to Tommy DeVito.
New York briefly took a 7-3 lead in the first quarter, but Dallas led 27-10 at the end of the period. Both teams averaged less than five yards per game and fumbled twice, totaling 156 yards in penalties. The Cowboys were less bad, resulting in a 27-20 victory, moving their record to 5-7.