2010 NFL Season Is Most-Viewed Ever, Cowboys Remain Biggest Draw

by One.Cool.Customer on Jan 14, 2011 10:34 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Hardly a week passed this season in which the NFL did not put out a press release bragging about its record breaking TV ratings. And this week is no different - except we now have the numbers for the whole season.

Football fans across America tuned into NFL games in the largest numbers ever in 2010. According to The Nielsen Company, the 2010 regular season reached 207.7 million unique viewers, the most in history. NFL games accounted for the 19 most-watched TV shows among all programming last fall - up from 11 last season. Number 20 was the season finale (pt. 2) of ABC's Dancing with the Stars which, to my eternal regret, I did not watch.

The NFL has, of course, traditionally done well on TV, but this year's success is truly unprecedented: for the first time, an NFL game was the most-watched show among all programs in each of the season’s 17 weeks. Five years ago, not a single game made it into the Top 15.

And the most watched team among the top 19 games? The Cowboys of course, despite or perhaps even because of their dismal 6-10 record. The top rated game? The Cowboys' Thanksgiving game against the Saints.

Below is a the full rundown of the 19 top rated TV shows this fall, every single one an NFL game. A couple of things that stand out:

The Cowboys played in seven of these games. The Packers are second with five, the Vikings, Eagles, Bears and Patriots have four each. Of the 38 teams involved in these 19 games, 30 teams are NFC teams, eight are AFC teams - four of which are Patriots games.

At least one NFC East team played in 11 of the top 19 games, as did the NFC North. Only one game out of the 19 did not feature either a team from the NFC East or a team from the NFC North, and that was the 14th-ranked Jets v. Steelers game.

The 19 most-watched shows of the 2010 fall TV season:

Rank	Program	Games	Date	Viewers
1	FOX Thanksgiving Day	Saints-Cowboys	11/25	31.9 million
2	CBS Sunday National	mostly Patriots-Bears	12/12	30.5 million
3	FOX Sunday National	mostly Packers-Eagles	9/12	28.0 million
4	CBS Sunday National	mostly Colts-Eagles	11/7	27.8 million
5	CBS Thanksgiving Day	Patriots-Lions	11/25	27.8 million
6	NBC Thursday Kickoff	Vikings-Saints	9/9	27.5 million
7	FOX Sunday National	mostly Cowboys-Colts	12/5	27.4 million
8	CBS Sunday National	mostly Bears-Cowboys	9/19	27.0 million
9	FOX Sunday National	mostly Eagles-Bears	11/28	26.6 million
10	FOX Sunday National	mostly Cowboys-Giants	11/14	26.2 million
11	FOX Sunday National	mostly Bears-Packers	1/2/11	26.1 million
12	FOX Sunday National	mostly Cowboys-Vikings	10/17	26.0 million
13	NBC Sunday Night Football	Eagles-Cowboys	12/12	25.7 million
14	CBS Sunday National	mostly Jets-Steelers	12/19	25.7 million
15	NBC Sunday Night Football	Vikings-Packers	10/24	25.7 million
16	NBC Sunday Night Football	Cowboys-Redskins	9/12	25.3 million
17	CBS Sunday National	mostly Vikings-Patriots	10/31	25.2 million
18	FOX Sunday National	mostly Giants-Packers	12/26	24.3 million
19	NBC Sunday Night Football	Packers-Patriots	12/19	24.2 million

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Comments

Cowboys are truly America's Team

When fans from other teams contest this fact, we can always point to evidence like this.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jan 14, 2011 10:36 AM CST reply actions

or or

its because 31 other teams fans hate the Cowboys so everyone tuned in to watch this disaster of a season

by thebigham on Jan 14, 2011 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

There’s some truth in that.

by JimmyK on Jan 14, 2011 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

But that is a factor

of why they are America’s Team…….they are the most watched and the most valuable……go on any Yahoo blog that has the cowboys on it and about half the people posting are haters only……….NO OTHER TEAM draws that much attention good or bad. I continue to tell the haters that they are actually the reason that the Cowboys are America’s team, if they did not care, dallas would still be among the most viewed/commented on, but not number 1.

He who laughs last, thinks slowest

by BigBad Joe on Jan 14, 2011 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

then how do you explain every other season

as the Cowboys are always the most watched team in the league…every year

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jan 14, 2011 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

Or Texas' Team

As there are enough loyal fans in Texas to far outnumber other states.

Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends.- JRR Tolkien

by tkiller314 on Jan 14, 2011 4:39 PM CST up reply actions

Even on a down year, we still rock the networks!

"....the Cowboy way...." (Head Coach, Jason Garrett)

by BishopWest on Jan 14, 2011 10:42 AM CST reply actions

Not so sure

To me Thanksgiving is a traditional day when folks get together and watc football, when normally they would not. There are only so many teams to choose from on Thanksgiving. You don’t see the Cowboys name again until number 7.

I guess I’m just wondering outloud, if we keep missing the playoffs will we lose our shine. I realize the boys are a popular team, but are we living on borrowed time? Not sure and hope not.

by Macksfield on Jan 14, 2011 11:05 AM CST reply actions

"if we keep missing the playoffs"

I think you’re right, but it’s been one year since they’ve been, that isn’t a trend.

AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.

by Iron Fist on Jan 14, 2011 11:21 AM CST up reply actions

not true

The Cowboys were still a tremendous draw back in the dark ages of Campo and Gailey as well

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jan 14, 2011 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

See - This is how it is....

Cowboys 7 entries
Packers 4
Vikings 4
Eagles 4
Patriots 3
Bears 2
Saints 2
Colts 2
Giants 1 lol-lmfao-rofl Raiders and Lions had 1 too
Steelers 1 (See Giants comments)
Jets 1 (Same as Steelers comment)

Where are all the smack-talking trolls when you need them?

If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

by White Wolf on Jan 14, 2011 11:35 AM CST reply actions

Awesome, Totally Awesome !!

Not ALL the fan’s are from Texas either. I live in Iowa; a state in which I am mostly surrounded by Cheese-wads, Purple nurples, or Da Bear’s I continue to bleed Navy & Silver !! There are even Steeler fan’s trolling our schoolyards lol !!
I love your post, and the all the hater’s whom post, which does nothing but help our cause !! The Cowboy’s have, and will continue to be America’s Team long after all these people have grown old, and died. When their “Itty Bitty Cowboy Hater’s” will be all grown up. Just as illiterate, and jealous as their inbred forefather’s lmao !!
My whole house is a shrine to The Cowboy’s. All the way from my limited edition keepsakes to my sheet’s/comforter to my shower curtain, and the list goes on & on !! I have enough Cowboy wear to last each day for almost 1 month w/out having to don the same twice !! I love MY COWBOY"S !! I would rather root a bad Cowboy team than a great team from anywhere else. Good thing ALL the great dynasties in Football are from Dallas !! Love your data..

by iowafan1 on Jan 15, 2011 10:12 PM CST up reply actions

Pretty Amazing

Even Jerry’s decade of incompetence hasn’t diminished the world’s love of the Cowboys.

Greetings from the Humungus, the Ruler of the Wasteland, the Ayatollah of Rock and Roll-A. I laugh at your puny plans.

by Lord Humungus on Jan 14, 2011 11:50 AM CST reply actions

Nice. My birds with 2 of the top 4 and 4 of the top 13.

by JimmyK on Jan 14, 2011 12:05 PM CST reply actions

Yes. Nicely done.

But the Giants (2) and Redskins (1) are bringing shame to the East.

by One.Cool.Customer on Jan 14, 2011 12:23 PM CST up reply actions

Indeed. the rest of the NFL fans around the league get annoyed by this, but the NFC East will always dominate the prime time games, even after down years like 2010.

by JimmyK on Jan 14, 2011 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

+1

He who laughs last, thinks slowest

by BigBad Joe on Jan 14, 2011 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

Vick factor

If at first you don't succeed - blame someone else.

by Tom Ryle on Jan 14, 2011 8:00 PM CST up reply actions

This is despairing news indeed

So long as JJ can keep top ratings while fielding mediocore teams, he has less incentive to make fundamental changes needed to field a champion. Sorry fans, but had the ’Boyz gathered ratings like the Browns or Bengals, JJ would have sold or restructured this team years ago. The ’Boyz have been one of the most mediocre teams of the past decade. Suck on that JJ

by bresson on Jan 14, 2011 1:01 PM CST reply actions