Jerry Jones Nearly Falls Greeting Bill Clinton at Cowboys Pre-Draft Event (Video)
Jerry Jones Watches Cowboys Win Draw Season-High 27.21M Viewers 1
The Dallas Cowboys took care of business on Sunday, beating the Washington Commanders 37-20 to move to 1-1 on the season following a tough Week 1 loss to New York. However, the home opener achieved much more than just getting the team back into the win column.
Driven by a stellar performance from Dak Prescott, the victory completely shifted the early-season momentum for Dallas while capturing the attention of football fans nationwide.
Jerry Jones’ Cowboys set season-high NFL ratings mark
FOX’s broadcast of the game, part of its “America’s Game of the Week” package, pulled in 27.21 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. That number makes it the most-watched NFL telecast of the 2026 season so far and the top-rated program across any network for the week.
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Feb 5, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones poses on the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
This total represents an 8% increase over last year’s full-season average for America’s Game of the Week, which drew 25,269,000 viewers. Part of the draw traces back to Jerry Jones himself, who’s never been shy about the “America’s Team” label.
FOX’s America’s Game of the Week posts the most watched NFL telecast of the season to date with 27,212,000 viewers in Week 2. pic.twitter.com/y4GWnPCgKw
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 22, 2026
Jerry Jones spent the offseason talking up the potential of the roster, and after a 28-20 opening loss to the Giants, the team owner addressed the setback directly during his regular appearance on 105.3 The Fan.
“We’re all very disappointed,” Jones said. “Having said that, though, the question is, ‘OK, what are we going to do about it?'”
However, Sunday’s dominant performance provided that answer immediately. Prescott drove the offensive turnaround by completing 26 of 31 passes for 279 yards, four touchdowns, and a 143.8 passer rating. This efficient aerial display offset a quiet ground game where Javonte Williams managed just 30 rushing yards.
Jones credited Prescott’s milestone directly to the quarterback’s daily preparation and development, saying, “He’s a product of his own work ethic. He’s a product of his focus on getting better at every detail of his game. I’m happy to say that he’s a better quarterback today than he’s ever been. He’s playing at an extremely high level, and that gives us our best chance to win a Super Bowl.”
The performance also eased early anxieties surrounding a defensive unit that underwent significant offseason retooling. After a shaky opener, the defense settled down, holding Washington to 20 points and preventing a late-game comeback.
Their dominant on-field response translated directly to a massive ratings haul for Fox. Clearing last year’s average by a large margin in Week 2 sets an early bar for the rest of the season’s national broadcasts.
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