Thanksgiving Giants vs Cowboys highest rated regular season NFL game.

[Don CT]

Giants-Cowboys draws record 42 million viewers

The Thanksgiving afternoon game between the Giants and Cowboys averaged 42 million viewers, according to Nielsen, making it the most-watched NFL regular-season game on record.

www.espn.com

The Thanksgiving afternoon game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys set the mark for the most-watched NFL regular-season game on record.

The Cowboys' 28-20 victory on Fox averaged 42 million viewers, according to Nielsen, surpassing the 41.55 million average for the Dec. 3, 1990, Monday night game between the Giants and San Francisco 49ers on ABC. Average viewer record numbers date to 1988.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

they could put pre season games on Thanksgiving and they'd still get great numbers

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

It was likely the most watched TV program carried on only one network since the Super Bowl last February (the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II probably drew more viewers in the U.S. than the Dallas/N.Y. Giants Thanksgiving game did, but the Queen's funeral was carried on quite a few networks, with viewing spread between them).

One big reason might be the two teams involved.

The Dallas Cowboys not only are in a huge market, but their "territory" includes all of Texas (except metropolitan Houston), and all of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Additionally, they have fans scattered across the United States. No wonder why they're nicknamed "America's Team".

The New York Football Giants are based in America's largest TV market, so that fact alone brings in the large New York viewership.

Another reason is that this year, both are very good teams fighting for playoff berths.

 

[TheBigA]

One big reason might be the two teams involved.

It was also the only real thing on TV during Thanksgiving. We had a houseful and everyone was watching the game regardless of who was playing.

 

[Don CT]

It was also the only real thing on TV during Thanksgiving. We had a houseful and everyone was watching the game regardless of who was playing.

That's every year. The fact that it was the Giants and both teams were good this year.

 

[tbolt909]

That's every year. The fact that it was the Giants and both teams were good this year.

The #1 NY TV market certainly helped, but Dallas is always scheduled in the prime spots. In addition to the annual Thanksgiving game, they get many Sunday Night games & the 4pm Sunday prime games. Love them or hate them, the Cowboys are ratings gold. Since the team is winning this year, that brings in even more eyeballs. Dallas vs Indianapolis wasn't "Flexed" out of the Sunday night spot this week even though more attractive match ups are available. That's only because it's the Cowboys...

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Since the NFL now has a prime-time game on Thanksgiving night, I wonder if the league would consider moving the start time of Dallas's annual Thanksgiving game from the current kickoff at 3:30 P.M. local (4:30 EST) to 7:15 P.M. local (8:15 EST).

On the one hand, having "America's Team" in prime-time on Thanksgiving night could give that game the highest number of viewers of any regular season game if that particular season, as most Americans will have finished their Thanksgiving dinners by then and could watch the game, given the Cowboys' huge national following (and especially if they are in a big game or face a very good opponent).

But on the other hand, having Dallas play in prime-time on Thanksgiving might not result in the prime-time game getting more viewers than it has been getting in recent years, or a prime-time Dallas game on Thanksgiving may not get more (or even the same number of) viewers compared to the current late afternoon start time.