The Ultimate Gridiron Feast: Ranking NFL Thanksgiving's Most-Watched Games Ever

There’s something undeniably special about Thanksgiving Day in America, isn’t there? The aroma of roasting turkey, the warmth of family gathered around, and, for millions upon millions, the undeniable allure of NFL football kicking off on the television. It’s a tradition as American as apple pie, really, and for decades now, these holiday matchups haven’t just entertained; they’ve consistently shattered viewership records, proving just how deeply ingrained the game is in our collective holiday spirit.

When we talk about "most-watched," it’s important to remember that the way we measure eyeballs on screens has evolved quite a bit. Back in the day, the magic number was often the "household rating" – a percentage of TVs tuned in. Nowadays, with so many viewing options, we tend to focus more on raw total viewership figures. But regardless of the metric, the story remains the same: Thanksgiving football is a massive draw.

Let's cast our minds back to perhaps the most iconic high-rated game in history: the 1993 Thanksgiving clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. Think about it – Brett Favre, Barry Sanders, a rivalry game, all on a national holiday. That particular contest pulled in an astonishing 34.8 household rating, translating to an estimated 37 million viewers. It’s a benchmark that really shows the enduring power of classic NFL matchups from an earlier era.

Fast forward to the modern era, and the numbers are just as staggering, if not more so, in terms of sheer viewer volume. The 2022 Thanksgiving Day afternoon game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, for instance, wasn't just huge; it became the single most-watched regular season NFL game ever. A staggering 42.1 million people tuned in to watch that showdown on FOX. Just let that sink in for a moment – more than 42 million! It really highlights the enduring appeal of America's Team playing on their traditional holiday stage.

And speaking of the Cowboys, it’s practically a given that any game they play on Thanksgiving will pull in monstrous numbers. The 2023 afternoon matchup against the Washington Commanders on FOX, for example, brought in a phenomenal 41.8 million viewers. Earlier that same day, the CBS broadcast featuring the Commanders and Cowboys (a different game, of course, usually the earlier slot) still managed to captivate 31.7 million pairs of eyes. It just goes to show, the allure of those early and mid-afternoon games, especially featuring the traditional hosts, is incredibly potent.

Of course, it's not just the Cowboys and Lions, though they are certainly central to the holiday tradition. The late game, usually on NBC or Amazon Prime Video these days, also sees incredible engagement. In 2023, the Thursday Night Football game on Thanksgiving, pitting the San Francisco 49ers against the Seattle Seahawks, attracted a robust 26.9 million viewers across Prime Video, FOX, and NFL Network. While perhaps not hitting the stratospheric highs of the afternoon slots, it still represents a record for TNF and solidifies the idea that fans are eager for football from morning till night on this special day.

Other recent Thanksgiving blockbusters that deserve a mention include the 2021 battle between the Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders, which commanded 37.8 million viewers on CBS, and the 2022 Buffalo Bills versus Detroit Lions tilt, which saw 29 million tuning in. Even in the unusual COVID-impacted year of 2020, where a Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game had to be rescheduled, the sheer appetite for NFL football was evident, with initial games still pulling in millions.

So, as you gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, remember that you're not just watching a football game; you're part of a massive, shared cultural event. The NFL on Thanksgiving isn’t merely a sporting event; it's a testament to tradition, community, and America’s unending passion for the gridiron, consistently delivering moments that become part of holiday lore and viewership history.