ESPN announces Buccaneers vs Cowboys was most-watched playoff game since 1999

ESPN announced Tuesday that Monday night’s Wild Card matchup between the Buccaneers and Cowboys was the most-watched playoff game for the company since 1999. An estimated 30.6 million people tuned in to watch Dallas take out Tom Brady and Tampa Bay 31-14 to advance to the divisional round.

The Nielsen rating is not yet final, and ESPN anticipates it surpassing the 1999 playoff game between the Cowboys and Cardinals (30.7 million viewers) to become the most-watched game ever.

“This exceptional number proves once again that live sports are unequaled in amassing large audiences,” ESPN and Sports Content Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said. “The success is also a clear reflection of how ESPN, working alongside the NFL and our colleagues at Disney, can help attract fans, build anticipation, and expand our reach. Even without a dramatic ending, it was an extraordinarily memorable evening.”

Monday night’s game was also the most-watched for Disney since Super Bowl XL in February 2006 and the third-most watched game in the company’s history. The alternate Manningcast broadcast with Peyton and Eli Manning garnered an audience of 1.7 million, up 17% from the show’s Playoff debut last season (1.4 million viewers).

Dallas was dominant from the get go, jumping out to a 24-0 lead before Tampa Bay scored its first touchdown of the game late in the third quarter. Quarterback Dak Prescott put together a huge performance in the victory, finishing 25-of-33 passing for 305 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 24 yards rushing and another score on the ground.

With the win against the Buccaneers, the Cowboys advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs for the first time since 2018. There they will face San Francisco, which eliminated them from the postseason in 2021, and will surely have revenge on their minds.

Kickoff between Dallas and the 49ers is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday in San Francisco.