If you want a place that's a good southern bbq atmosphere, head to brother jimmy's. There are 3, I live by the one on 80th and Amsterdam in the Upper West Side. 1 street down you will find another popular sports bar called Blondies on 79th. Across the street from BJs there is a roomie Irish bar, down the street on 77th there is a really large bar called TimeOut that is good as well.
I'd avoid like the plague any chain type place like ESPN just because they will be out of control packed, and you might as well hang out somewhere "NYC" as opposed to a tourist trap.
You might want to call a place called Hill Country BBQ, its in gramercy, opened by some people from Austin, they might have a Cowboys watching group there.
hope that helps. Brother Jimmy's on the UWS would be my first recommendation.