Boardroom breaks down the most-watched Thanksgiving Day NFL games over the last 30 years. Spoiler: The Dallas Cowboys are on this list a lot.
The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1934. It’s an NFL tradition that’s stood the test of time. The Dallas Cowboys joined the Lions on Turkey Day, starting their streak in 1966. Detroit traditionally hosts the early game and Dallas hosts a late game, giving us a routine has become synonymous with the holiday over the past half-century.
While the NFL added an annual Thanksgiving night primetime game featuring various teams in 2006, the Cowboys games in the late afternoon Eastern window has always drawn the most viewers. When Dallas defeated the New York Giants on Thanksgiving last year, just over 42 million fans tuned in, breaking the all-time NFL regular season viewership record set in 1990.
Here’s a look at the 10 most viewed NFL Thanksgiving games over the last 30 years:
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Most Watched NFL Thanksgiving Games (last 30 years)
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants, 2022
Score: Dallas 28, New York 20
Network: FOX
Viewers: 42.06 million
Player of the game: Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders, 2023
Score: Dallas 45, Washington 10
Network: CBS
Viewers: 41.8 million
Player of the game: Prescott, DaRon Bland
Dallas Cowboys vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 2021
Score: Las Vegas 36, Dallas 33 (OT)
Network: CBS
Viewers: 40.8 million
Player of the game: Derek Carr
Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins, 1993
Score: Miami 16, Dallas 14
Network: NBC
Viewers: 38.4 million
Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1995
Score: Dallas 24, Kansas City 12
Network: NBC
Viewers: 35.7 million
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington, 2016
Score: Dallas 31, Washington 26
Network: FOX
Viewers: 35.1 million
Players of the game: Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott
Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers, 2023
Score: Green Bay 29, Detroit 22
Network: FOX
Viewers: 33.7 million
Players of the game: Jordan Love
Most watched Lions Thanksgiving game of all time
Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1998
Score: Minnesota 46, Dallas 36
Network: FOX
Viewers: 32.7 million
Player of the game: Randy Moss
Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills, 2019
Score: Buffalo 26, Dallas 15
Network: CBS
Viewers: 32.64 million
Player of the game: Josh Allen
Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers, 2015
Score: Carolina 33, Dallas 14
Network: CBS
Viewers: 32.5 million
Players of the game: Luke Kuechly, Jerricho Cotchery, Kurt Coleman, Cam Newton
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 2014
Score: Philadelphia 33, Dallas 10
Network: FOX
Viewers: 32 million
Player of the game: LeSean McCoy
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears, 2015
Score: Chicago 17, Green Bay 13
Network: NBC
Viewers: 27.8 million
Players of the game: Jay Cutler, Tracy Porter
Most watched NBC primetime Thanksgiving game
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