FOX announces massive ratings for Cowboys-49ers playoff game

The Dallas Cowboys proved once again to be must-watch television on Sunday night, despite losing to the 49ers 19-12 in the divisional-round matchup.

The game drew a whopping 45.7 million viewers, according to Fox Sports, which said it was the second-most watched NFL Divisional playoff on record. The only divisional-round game with more views was the 2017 Cowboys versus Green Bay Packers game. That matchup had 48.5 million views.

Cowboys-49ers also brought in a streaming audience of 1.86 million, which is the biggest ever for a divisional playoff contest.

Sunday's Divisional clash between the @DallasCowboys and @49ers delivered 45.7 million viewers on FOX 🤯

This ranks as the most-watched matchup of the weekend and the second most-watched NFL Divisional playoff game on record.#NFLPlayoffs | #DALvsSF | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/SX2kpbZ7yi

— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) January 24, 2023

The massive viewing numbers came one week after ESPN announced that the 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 Monday night 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.

Dak Prescott vows to bring Cowboys back to playoffs

Dak Prescott understands how close his team was to finally reaching the NFC title game on Sunday for the first time since 1995. That’s why, after the game, he vowed to bring them back as soon as possible. Prescott shouldered the blame for the 19-12 loss to the 49ers and, though many factors contributed to the outcome, his two interceptions did not help.

“If I had the answers, then we would’ve won tonight. Too early. Too soon,” Prescott said on Sunday night. “And I promise you we will, though. In my time playing on this team, for this organization, we will. Yeah, it sucks that it’s 365 days away to get back to this position, but we’ve got to take it day by day, step by step, and that’s what I’ll do.

“I know that’s who I am. I’ll respond the right way. As I said, when we get this team aligned, the guys that we get back, coaches, we’ll do what’s necessary to be right back here and win the next time.”

The Cowboys could lose a chunk of starters from this year’s squad to free agency before next season but thanks to his massive contract, Prescott will still be around, for better or worse.

Last Monday versus Tampa Bay, the Cowboys QB had one of his best performances of the season. He followed it up by going 23-for-37 for 206 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.