For the second time this season, a battle of AFC South teams produced lower-than-average numbers for Monday Night Football.
Monday’s Texans/Colts game earned a 7.4 U.S. rating and 11.911 million viewers on ESPN, down 4% in ratings and viewership from Week 8 last year (ATL/NO: 7.7, 12.374 mil), and up 1% and 3%, respectively, from Week 8 in 2008 (IND/TEN: 7.4, 11.604 mil).
The Colts’ win ranks as the second-lowest rated, second-least viewed Monday Night Football telecast of the season — ahead of only another AFC South matchup, Titans/Jaguars on October 18 (6.2, 9.666 mil).
Texans/Colts drew a lower rating and fewer viewers than the final game of the 2010 World Series, which aired at virtually the same time on FOX (8.8, 14.950 mil). That said, the NFL game came out ahead among adults 18-49, topping the World Series 4.9 to 4.2.
MNF was the top program of the night on broadcast and cable among adults 18-49 and 18-34, as well as men 18-49 and 18-34.
Through Week 8, ESPN is averaging a 9.2 U.S. rating and 14.626 million viewers for Monday Night Football, up 2% and 1%, respectively, from last year (9.0, 14.422 mil).
(ESPN)
