⚡ INSIDE UPDATE: Cowboys and Chiefs Quietly Shatter a Historic NFL Record — And The Hidden Reason Behind This Surge Is Leaving Executives Stunned Sources say the audience spike wasn’t just about two powerhouse teams, but something unfolding off the field that no one expected. Fans everywhere are piecing together clues as the story grows even stranger.

Topline

This year’s Thanksgiving matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs was the most-watched regular season NFL game of all time, according to viewership statistics released by CBS Sports, bringing in an average of more than 57 million viewers.

The Cowboys defeated the Chiefs 31-28.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Key Facts

The game, which was one of three NFL matchups broadcast on Thanksgiving, averaged 57.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen data cited by CBS Sports.

The audience for the tightly contested game televised on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ peaked at 61.4 million viewers.

The matchup between the Cowboys and Chiefs eclipsed the previous regular season viewership record in terms of average audience, which was set by the Cowboys and New York Giants on Thanksgiving three years ago, bringing in an average of 42 million viewers and a peak of 61.4 million.

The Cowboys defeated the Chiefs 31-28 in a game that carried heavy playoff implications for both teams.

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Forbes Valuation

The Cowboys are the most valuable team in the NFL, according to Forbes estimates. The team was worth $13 billion ahead of this year’s regular season. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are worth an estimated $6.2 billion, placing them at No. 22 on Forbes’ list of most valuable NFL teams.

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