It was not much of a game, and not much of a draw, but Monday Night Football still delivered its sixth increase in eight tries.
Patriots-Jets averaged a 6.4 rating and 10.84 million viewers on ESPN’s Monday Night Football last night, flat in ratings but up 5% in viewership from last year (Giants-Falcons: 6.4, 10.33M) and down 7% and 5% respectively from 2017 (Washington-Philadelphia: 6.9, 11.35M).
The Patriots’ shutout win, which peaked with 13.15 million viewers from 9-9:15 PM ET, was the sixth of eight Monday night games to increase over last year.
MNF is now averaging 11.86 million viewers for the season (+4%).
Despite the increase, ratings and viewership were the lowest for a Patriots game on ESPN since 2004 (5.1) and 2005 (9.7M) respectively. Both of those games were Sunday Night Football matchups against the Bills.
ESPN’s Patriots game last year — also against the Bills — averaged a 6.6 and 10.85 million.
ESPN’s telecast drew a 12.3 rating in Boston and a 6.0 in New York City. Buffalo is no longer included in Nielsen overnights. The game was simulcast on local affiliates in both markets, earning a 24.4 on Boston ABC affiliates WMUR and WCVB and a 3.4 on Channel 11 in New York.
Providence was the top market for ESPN’s telecast with a 23.8 rating, followed by Hartford-New Haven (12.8).
Including Spanish-language coverage on ESPN Deportes (63K), Monday’s game averaged 10.90 million (+3%).
[Nielsen estimates from ESPN]
