Despite a combined 1-5 record, the Lions and Seahawks delivered ESPN’s top Monday Night Football telecast of the early season.
The Week 4 Lions/Seahawks Monday Night Football game drew a 9.0 final rating and 14.4 million viewers on ESPN, up 2% in ratings and flat in viewership compared to Patriots/Chiefs last year (8.8, 14.4M) and up 5% in both measures from Dolphins/Saints in 2013 (8.6, 13.7M).
The Seahawks’ narrow victory ranks as the highest rated and most-watched MNF telecast this season, edging the previous highs of 8.8 and 14.3 million for Vikings/49ers in Week 1.
It was also the fourth of five MNF telecasts this season to have an increase in ratings or viewership. It should be noted that only one of those telecasts has had an increase in both measures — the previously mentioned Vikings/49ers game.
Monday’s game was marked by a controversial finish, but ratings and viewership peaked relatively early — with a 10.2 and 16.5 million from 9:30-9:45 PM ET.
MNF had a 5.2 rating among adults 18-49, down a tick from last year (5.3) and down 7% from 2013 (5.6).
(Mon. numbers from ESPN, additional info from ShowBuzz Daily)
