The Week 3 Monday night game between the Eagles and Bears racked up 22.6 million viewers on the Disney family of networks. The Week 4 Monday night game between the Falcons and Saints did almost half that number.
Via ESPN, the latest Monday night game on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes attracted a total average audience of 11.9 million.
It’s a surprising drop in audience, especially in light of the significance of the game. It happened 20 years after the return of the Saints to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, with a 23-3 win over Atlanta sparked by a blocked punt by Steve Gleason that is immortalized in a statue outside the stadium. There was extensive focus, and rightfully so, on the relevance of the 2026 rematch.
Ultimately, the game has to hold the audience. The Falcons led 24-7 at the half, en route to a 45-24 win. By then, it was easy for many to check out.
Also, the fact that (unlock most Monday night games) the game wasn’t simulcast on ABC ate into the audience.
Through the first three weeks, Monday Night Football had averaged 21.8 million viewers. The Week 4 game pulls the average down to 19.325 million.
This week’s game should make up for it — the Bills visit the Rams in what could be a shootout that goes down to the wire.
