ESPN scored its highest Monday Night Football overnight of the season, and its first increase in three weeks, for a controversial finish from Seattle.
The Week 4 Lions/Seahawks Monday Night Football game drew a 9.9 overnight rating on ESPN, up 3% from Patriots/Chiefs last year (9.6), up 2% from Dolphins/Saints in 2013 (9.7), and the highest Week 4 MNF overnight since Bears/Cowboys in 2012 (11.6).
The Seahawks’ narrow win, preserved by a missed call in the final minutes, ranks as the highest rated MNF telecast of the season in the metered markets (five telecasts) and the first since Week 1 to have an increase.
It should be noted that the game did not peak during the controversial finish, but around halftime — earning an 11.4 from 9:30-9:45 PM ET.
ESPN’s telecast drew a 20.3 rating in Seattle and a 9.3 in Detroit. The game was simulcast on local affiliates in both markets, earning a 26.0 on Seattle independent affiliate KONG and a 15.0 on Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ. Las Vegas was the top neutral market with a 16.7, with Portland and San Diego rounding out the top five (15.8 in each).
(Mon. numbers from ESPN)
