Monday Night Football on ESPN has been extremely successful to date this year, and this past week’s game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams was no exception.
The game delivered nearly 15.9 million viewers across ESPN Networks (ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes), as the franchise continues to drive a successful 2021 campaign.
The 15,895,000 viewers on ESPN and ABC represent MNF’s best audience since the season opener this season and its second best audience in 27 games, dating back to Week 3 of the 2020 season.
The game was the best Week 14 numbers since 2014, and the second best in the ESPN era (2006 – present). The audience represents an increase of 23% and 35% from 2020 respectively. Similar to Week 14, Monday Night Football aired nationally on both ESPN and ABC twice in December of 2020, and this season’s Rams-Cardinals game topped both of those audiences.
In back-to-back weeks, ESPN’s Monday Night Football has delivered two of its three largest audiences. Week 13’s New England-Buffalo matchup delivered 15 million viewers.
The franchise is now averaging 13,389,000 viewers season-to-date, up 11% from 2020 and 6% from 2019.
The broadcast was the most-watched telecast of the night among key demos: Men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 as well as persons 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 on ESPN.
We will see if ESPN can continue to build on these solid ratings this season with a matchup next week between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears.