Cowboys’ 45-10 win over the Commanders on Thanksgiving becomes the most watched TV program since Super Bowl LVII with 41.438 million viewers

The 2023 Cowboys-Commanders Thanksgiving game became the second most watched spectacle on American television.

Cowboys’ 45-10 win over the Commanders on Thanksgiving becomes the most watched TV program since Super Bowl LVII with 41.438 million viewers

Sam Howell and Dak Prescott (Image via IMAGO)

In case anyone was wondering why the Dallas Cowboys are such a popular franchise, one can check out the numbers for their Thanksgiving game against the Washington Commanders. Even those who try to steer clear of anything that is associated with the Cowboys will agree with the pulling power of the Dallas franchise.

By now, it has become customary to watch the stat helmets play in the Thanksgiving game every year. Whether at the AT&T stadium in Arlington or at home, fans can sit on the couch and enjoy the game. The audience did not disappoint as their game drew massive ratings, which are conspicuous in the numbers.

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CBS Sports PR posted on X that an average of 41.438 million viewers (with a peak of 44.265 million viewers) tuned in to watch the Cowboys decimate the Commanders 45-10. That is the third-most-viewed football game in the history of the NFL. It surely captivated the fans.

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Dallas Cowboys games regularly attract a large audience

Thursday’s game is now the third-most-viewed regular-season game. One of them is the 1990 Monday night football game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, which saw an average of 41.6 million viewers. And at the top is last season’s Thanksgiving game between the Cowboys and the Giants, which generated an average of 42.1 million viewers.

Cowboys' 45-10 win over the Commanders on Thanksgiving becomes the most watched TV program since Super Bowl LVII with 41.438 million viewers
DaRon Bland and Dak Prescott enjoy turkey dinner after winning the Thanksgiving game against the Commanders (Image via CNN)

Jerry Jones‘ side is well and truly the ‘Americas Team.’ According to Sports Media Watch, out of 11 games involving the Dallas Cowboys this season, four of them are on the most-viewed list. After the game, the veteran owner said that it was one of the best days of his cowboy life.

I don't know that I've had a day like this. And I'll include them all—the Super Bowls—in there; I don't know if I've ever had a better day with the Cowboys than today.
Jerry Jones

It was a great day for fantasy football players who had Dak Prescott as their quarterback. The 30-year-old threw 331 yards and four touchdowns. With that, he equaled his predecessor, Tony Romo, by completing four touchdowns in 10 games in their career. Not to mention, he received the highest single-game grade (97.0) by a QB since 2007.

Pretty cool. [But] I can't say I've been one to care for numbers, but watching this team growing up and being a Cowboys fan, it's humbling.
Dak Prescott said after the game.

The two-time Pro Bowler is on a roll—completed 17 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions in the last five weeks—averaged 320.4 passing yards a game with a 70.5 percent completion rate and an 8.9 YPA.

Prescott wasn’t the only one who broke a record on Thursday night. Cornerback DaRon Bland became the first player in the history of the NFL to produce six pick-6s in one season. Linebacker Micah Parsons became the Cowboys leading sack maker with 11.5. Next, they will play against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12.

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