Vikings-Cowboys Was Most-Watched TNF Game Ever
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – All year long, fans and analysts alike have decried the NFL for its failing ratings and inferior product. People blamed the election, the poor on-field play and even player protests for the apparent downfall of America's most popular sport.
Judging by Thursday night's numbers, however, the NFL may not be in as much trouble as people think. The game, between the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys, was largely lackluster. There were few splash plays, the score was low and the ending was anticlimactic.
The lack of entertainment did not deter viewers, though. According to NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy, Vikings-Cowboys was the most-watched Thursday Night Football game ever.
McCarthy tweeted Friday that 21.8 million people tuned in to watch rookie Dak Prescott and the Cowboys hand the Vikings a 17-15 loss. McCarthy said viewership was up 22 percent from last year's Week 13 game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. That game featured one of the great endings in NFL history as Aaron Rodgers lobbed a 61-yard game-winning Hail Mary to tight end Richard Rodgers as time expired.
21.8 million viewers for #DALvsMIN, most-watched Thursday Night game ever. up 22% from last year's Rodgers to Rodgers game
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) December 2, 2016
Nothing so exciting happened in Thursday night's game, but perhaps the allure of watching Prescott, fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott and the dominant Cowboys face off against the slumping Vikings was too much for viewers to resist.