Week 5 Wrap: Double-Digit Drop For Jets’ First “MNF” Appearance

The Jets’ first appearance on “Monday Night Football” this season earned strong numbers, but could not compare to last year.

The Week 5 Texans/Jets “Monday Night Football” game drew a 9.0 U.S. rating and 14.047 million viewers on ESPN, down 13% in ratings and 14% in viewership from Bears/Lions last year (10.3, 16.378M), and down 16% and 19%, respectively, from Vikings/Jets in 2010 (10.7, 17.313M).

The game drew the smallest numbers for “MNF” since the Week 1 doubleheader, and ended a three-week streak where each game earned a double-digit U.S. rating.

Among adults 18-49, Monday’s game scored a 5.7 rating — down 17% from last year’s 6.9.

So far this season, ESPN has averaged a 9.0 U.S. rating and 13.981 million viewers for “Monday Night Football,” up 3% in ratings and viewership from last year (8.6, 13.622M), but down 5% and 8%, respectively, from 2010 (9.5, 15.240M).

(Monday’s numbers from ESPN, with additional information from The Futon Critic)