The Kansas City Chiefs’ 27-23 comeback win over the Denver Broncos scored for ESPN. The Monday Night Football matchup drew a 9.1 overnight rating (according to ESPN), up 8% from last year’s Redskins-Chiefs Week 4 MNF game (a 29-20 Chiefs win that finished with an incredible bad beat).
Furthermore, the Week 4 game this season was not only up from Week 4 last year, it was also the best MNF overnight rating since Week 3 of 2017, which was a 9.3 for the Cowboys’ 28-17 win over the Cardinals.
This ratings news finishes off a strong Week 4 for the NFL, which was up in all but one window (including Thursday Night Football). The strong viewership seems likely to continue into Week 5 – the TNF game this week is Colts-Patriots, the SNF game is Cowboys-Texans (even though the Texans stink and the Cowboys haven’t looked great this year, Dallas is always a huge draw for the league), and the Redskins-Saints MNF matchup has the added allure of Drew Brees being poised to overtake Peyton Manning’s all-time passing yardage record.
It looks like we’ve finally hit the low point of the NFL’s ratings woes, and this season will be a year of mild viewership increases and relieved exhales from the league’s owners and executives.
[ESPN]

About Joe Lucia
I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.
Recent Posts
NBC removes Olympics ice dancing analyst for conflict of interest
NBC Olympics ice dancing analyst Gabriella Papadakis is being removed from coverage after a scathing memoir aimed at her former partner.
ESPN moving ESPYs to New York to sync with Fanatics Fest
The ESPYs will move to New York City to try and get a bump from Fanatics Fest as part of their new partnership.
Gambling
As gambling scandals reach critical mass, leagues face a reputational crisis
Tom Brady explains how he knew it was time to retire
"When I got older, I almost enjoyed practice more than playing... Playing, it was almost like it was a relief to win."
Boomer Esiason: Jets ‘lucked out’ with Dante Moore returning to Oregon
"I think the Jets lucked out."
Kendrick Perkins: Warriors ‘nothing but dysfunctional’ since Bob Myers left
"It's just very embarrassing."