The Thanksgiving matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants showcased a 4-7 team led by its backup quarterback going up against a struggling 2-9 team with its third-string quarterback at the helm. NFL fans were, as always, eager for more.
On Thursday, the second of three Thanksgiving games attracted an average of 38.5 million viewers, as reported by Fox Sports, marking it as the most-viewed NFL game across all networks this regular season. During the second quarter, viewership reached a high of 41.3 million viewers.
The ratings for the games between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, as well as the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers, are still pending announcement.
The figures reflect a straightforward trend in sports media: as other leagues struggle against declining ratings in the television sector, the NFL consistently sees its numbers rise.
The vast audience didn’t quite witness the NFL at its finest. The Cowboys continued with Cooper Rush as their quarterback due to Dak Prescott’s injury, while the Giants turned to Drew Lock following Daniel Jones’ release and Tommy DeVito’s injury.
New York started strong with a 7-3 lead in the first quarter, but by the end of the third, Dallas surged ahead with a score of 27-10. Both teams struggled offensively, averaging under five yards per play and committing two fumbles, while racking up a total of 156 yards in penalties. The Cowboys improved slightly, securing a 27-20 victory to bring their record to 5-7.
