• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 16, 2025

Dallas Cowboys Win In TV Ratings But Lose On the Field

  • Cowboys vs 49ers averages 45.7 million viewers.
  • Second most-watched Divisional game ever.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Given the huge TV drawing power of the Dallas Cowboys, Fox Sports executives can only be dreaming about what might have been for the upcoming NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl 57.

During the NFL Divisional Playoffs, the Cowboys demonstrated once again why they are indeed America’s Team when it comes to TV ratings:

  • Fox drew 45.7 million viewers for its telecast of the Cowboys’ 19-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. It was the most-watched telecast of any kind on any network since NBC Sports’ telecast of Super Bowl 56.
  • Cowboys-49ers was the most-watched game of the NFL’s four-game Divisional weekend – and the second most-watched NFL Divisional game ever behind the 48.5 million for Cowboys-Green Bay Packers in 2017.
  • The week before, the Cowboys generated Disney and ESPN’s most-watched playoff game ever (31.2 million viewers) by beating Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wild Card Weekend.
  • On Thanksgiving Day, the Cowboys vs. New York Giants drew 42 million viewers, making it the most-watched regular season game in league history.
  • Fox’s telecast of the Philadelphia Eagles’ blowout win over the Giants averaged 28.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched prime telecast on Saturday night.

Cowboys-Bucs Projected to Be Disney’s Most-Watched Playoff

The Cowboys’ 31-14 win over the Bucs averaged 30.6 million viewers.
January 18, 2023

Meanwhile, CBS Sports averaged a whopping 39.3 million viewers for its telecast of the Cincinnati Bengals’ road win over the Buffalo Bills. It was the most-watched AFC Divisional Playoff game in the early TV window. 

NBC grabbed a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 34.3 million viewers for its coverage of the Kansas City Chiefs-Jacksonville Jaguars.  

The telecast across NBC TV, Peacock, NBC Sports Digital, and NFL Digital platforms was the most-watched Saturday afternoon Divisional game since 2013.

The game drew a 45.1 TV rating in the Kansas City market and 34.5 in the Jacksonville area.

From an NFL perspective, the league says the four Divisional Playoff games averaged 37.1 million viewers.

That’s down 3% from last year’s Divisional Playoffs. But the third-highest on record behind 2022 and 2015. 

And an 11% increase over the five-year average of 33.5 million viewers between 2018 and 2022.

The weekend produced a total unduplicated audience of 126.3 million viewers for the NFL. 

That’s also down 3% from last year – the highest Divisional round average on record. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of ESPN broadcast camera during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.

ESPN’s New NBA Segment Resists Hot Takes

LeBron James tweeted in favor of the new segment.
Aug 30, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Brandon Inniss (1) attempts to make a catch over Texas Longhorns defensive back Graceson Littleton (29) in the first half at Ohio Stadium.

SEC Games Help ABC Dominate College Football Ratings at Midseason

Texas–Ohio State on Fox remains the most-watched game of the season.
May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.

Featured Today

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Oct 10, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with teammates after game four of the 2025 WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center.

WNBA Finals Draws 1.5M Viewers, Second-Highest Series on ESPN

The four-game series averaged 1.5 million viewers.
Micah Parsons
exclusive
October 14, 2025

NFL Scorigami Creator Blames Glitches on Twitter Platform Changes

The bot has been glitching all NFL season, and fans have noticed.
MLS
October 14, 2025

MLS Publishes Unchecked AI-Generated Game Recaps

Humans are not reviewing the articles for accuracy.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Sep 5, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia embraces after their match in the semifinal of the men’s singles at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
October 13, 2025

Six Kings Slam Returns With Record $6M Prize, Netflix Deal

The Six Kings Slam is held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the NBA logo and NBA app logo and basketballs in front of the base during warms up before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Suns at the American Airlines Center.
October 13, 2025

NBA Will Take Over League Pass After WBD Divorce

The league now has full operational control of those media assets.
Aces
October 10, 2025

WNBA Finals Most Viewed In 25 Years Despite Possible Aces Sweep

Games 2 and 3 have averaged more than 1.2 million viewers.
Spectrum
October 10, 2025

ESPN Streaming Service at Core of New Spectrum Plan

The No. 1 U.S. distributor further blends linear and streaming TV.