The Dallas Cowboys' 31-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day became the most-watched regular-season NFL game ever, attracting 57.2 million viewers on CBS and Paramount+. This shattered the previous record of 42 million set by the 2022 Cowboys-Giants matchup. The NFL's strategic pairing of its two most popular teams on the holiday boosted viewership across the slate.
The Thanksgiving Day showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs delivered not just a competitive game but a historic audience. With the Cowboys rallying for a 31-28 win, viewership averaged 57.2 million, peaking at 61.4 million during the game's conclusion from 7:45-8 p.m. ET. This mark surpassed the prior regular-season high of 42 million viewers for the 2022 Thanksgiving game between the Cowboys and New York Giants on Fox.
The NFL intentionally scheduled the matchup, pitting the league's two most-watched teams—the Cowboys and Chiefs—on its most-viewed regular-season day. CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz highlighted the clash as a 'perfect confluence' of major American brands: the Cowboys, Chiefs, and Thanksgiving. The game's late-afternoon slot contributed to its massive reach, aided by Nielsen's improved measurement of out-of-home viewing, a key factor on the holiday.
The entire Thanksgiving slate performed strongly. The early game saw the Green Bay Packers defeat the Detroit Lions 31-24, drawing 47.7 million viewers on Fox and Tubi—the most-watched early Thanksgiving game on record. In primetime, the Baltimore Ravens-Bengals contest averaged 28.4 million across NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo, setting a record for a Thanksgiving night game.
Despite the viewership triumph, both teams face playoff challenges. As of early December 2025, the Chiefs hold a 37% chance to reach the postseason, while the Cowboys sit at 23%, per projections. The record underscores the NFL's holiday dominance, though upcoming Christmas games on streaming platforms may draw smaller audiences without network TV exposure.