The Detroit Lions set a new viewership record for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football (TNF) on December 4, 2023, attracting an average of 19.39 million viewers during their game against the Dallas Cowboys. This figure marks the highest regular-season viewership since Amazon began streaming TNF in 2022. The Lions secured a decisive 44-30 victory, maintaining their playoff aspirations and avoiding consecutive losses for the first time since the 2022 season.
With this win, the Lions are now just one game behind the Chicago Bears for the final playoff spot in the NFC, with only four games remaining in the season. According to Next Gen Stats, the team’s chances of clinching a playoff berth stand at 51 percent. If successful, it would signify a third consecutive postseason appearance under head coach Dan Campbell.
This record-breaking viewership eclipsed Amazon’s previous high of 17.76 million viewers, a number achieved during the September 11 matchup between the Washington Commanders and the Green Bay Packers. The Lions-Cowboys TNF game also surpassed the NFL’s season-to-date average of 18.6 million viewers across all networks, the best average at this stage of the season since 1989.
The Cowboys, often referred to as “America’s Team,” were part of another significant viewership milestone this season. Their Thanksgiving Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs attracted a remarkable 57.2 million viewers, setting an all-time record for NFL viewership. This game aired on CBS and followed the Lions’ own divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers, which averaged 47.7 million viewers, marking it the most-watched early Thanksgiving Day NFL game and Fox’s highest-rated regular season game ever.
Looking ahead, the Lions face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15, a matchup that promises to be another ratings success. This game will feature former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and his current team, which holds the No. 1 seed in the NFC at 10-3. The high-stakes game will be broadcast by Fox at 4:25 p.m. EST from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Fox Sports’ top broadcast team, including Kevin Burkhardt, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, along with reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi, will call the highly anticipated event.
As the NFL season progresses, the Lions’ continued performance and the growing interest in their games highlight their significant role in driving viewership within the league. The team’s success thus far not only reflects their on-field achievements but also their ability to engage fans across various platforms, particularly through Amazon’s expanding reach in sports broadcasting.
