Monday Night Football: Eagles Host Bears

Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles will host Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears in a marquee NFC matchup on ESPN’s Monday Night Football November 7, at 8:30 p.m. ET. A year ago in one of the most impressive individual performances in MNF history, Vick threw four passes for touchdowns and ran in two more in the Eagles’ 59-28 rout of the Redskins. Monday’s game marks the 50th MNF appearance for the Eagles franchise.

Mike Tirico will call the game with analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski and sideline reporter Suzy Kolber. At 7 p.m., Chris Berman hosts a 90-minute Monday Night Countdown with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, and NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. Host Stuart Scott, analysts Trent Dilfer, Steve Young, contributor Rick Reilly and reporter Rachel Nichols will join the show from Philadelphia.

ESPN, NFL Reach Eight-Year Extension for Monday Night Football

Broad Studio, Multimedia and International Rights Included

Monday Night Football, the most successful series in sports media history, will remain on ESPN through the 2021 NFL season under a new eight-year agreement between ESPN and the National Football League, it was announced today by ESPN and ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The broad multiplatform agreement, which begins in 2014, includes eight full seasons of MNF telecasts, expanded NFL studio programming (beginning this week), highlight rights for TV and ESPN.com, the Pro Bowl, the NFL Draft, 3D rights, and enhanced international rights.

The extensive package of NFL rights will fuel the continued growth of ESPN year-round, boosting its core television business while at the same time supporting the company’s “best available screen” strategy with NFL programs on TV, online and on mobile devices via authentication and digital rights. Outside the U.S., ESPN will televise MNF and other regular season games, playoffs, and the Super Bowl in 30 million households in 144 countries and territories across five continents, including Brazil, the Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Israel, Australia-New Zealand, and Continental Europe. The agreement also provides the NFL with an option to air a postseason Wild Card playoff game on ESPN should the NFL decide to do so.

An iconic series in the history of American television, Monday Night Football debuted in 1970.  After a 36-year run on ABC, the series moved to ESPN in 2006 as part of a landmark eight-year agreement.  During the past five seasons, ESPN’s MNF has become the most-watched series in cable television history, registering eight of cable’s 10 all-time biggest household audiences and 16 of the top 20 (excluding breaking news). In 2010, MNF ranked eighth among all primetime programs (broadcast or cable), averaging 10.5 million homes (14.7 million viewers), an unprecedented achievement for a cable television property. In addition, an estimated 140 million people viewed MNF and NFL studio programming on ESPN/ESPN2 over the course of the 2010 NFL season

Said Bodenheimer: “Today, we’ve secured cable’s most valuable television franchise, along with an enhanced international package of year-round multimedia rights. It will help grow our business well into the next decade. No one has the breadth of worldwide media assets or the ability to monetize a property the way ESPN can, particularly with Monday Night Football and our complete NFL coverage.”

“We are proud to extend our three-decade partnership with ESPN,” said Commissioner Goodell. “We have come a long way together since ESPN first televised the NFL Draft in 1980. With this new agreement we are excited about the opportunity to take the NFL-ESPN partnership to innovative new heights in serving the most passionate fans in sports.”

ESPN’s significantly-enhanced NFL rights package for the extension will include:

• Telecast rights to 17 Monday Night Football games per season for eight additional seasons (2014-2021).
• Rights to more than 500 new hours of NFL-branded studio programming per year, starting this week. Popular programs such as ESPN’s Emmy Award-winning Sunday NFL Countdown pre-game show (expands to three hours), NFL Live (expands to one hour year-round), Monday Night Countdown, NFL PrimeTime, and NFL Matchup will continue, and ESPN will create more NFL-branded studio programming, including NFL 32 and NFL Kickoff, both debuting this week.
  
  
• Expanded highlight rights across ESPN’s television and ESPN.com;
• Pro Bowl;
• NFL Draft, which ESPN has covered since 1980;
• 3D distribution rights;
• Rights to simulcast network coverage of ESPN’s MNF and NFL studio programs on tablet devices through ESPN’s WatchESPN App;
• Continued Spanish-language rights to MNF on ESPN Deportes;
• International rights, including distribution of MNF on ESPN International networks in select markets in Brazil, the Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Israel, Europe and Australia-New Zealand through 2021; regular season, playoffs and Super Bowl in select markets, totaling 30 million households in 144 countries and territories across five continents; and the ability to utilize NFL programming on all platforms as part of a linear stream of ESPN network programming.

The long-term agreement also ensures that Monday Night Football will celebrate its 50^th anniversary season on ESPN in 2020.

ESPN first televised Sunday primetime NFL games in 1987, covering the second half of the regular season (eight games annually,1987-89; nine games, 1990-97), and expanding to a full slate of 18 games from 1998-2005.  ESPN has carried a 17-game Monday Night Football schedule since 2006. ESPN is coming off a record-breaking season in 2010.

• Monday Night Football averaged a 10.5 rating, and 10.5 million homes (14.7 million viewers). ESPN won the night vs. all networks, cable or broadcast, among men 18-34 and men 18-49 every week during the 2010 season and consistently competed against the broadcast networks in total viewers on Monday nights;
• MNF ranked second among all regularly scheduled prime time programs in 2010 among men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54. Among adults 18-49, MNF ranked fourth;
• MNF games accounted for cable television’s 16 biggest audiences among households, and the 12 biggest among total viewers, in 2010;
• Sunday NFL Countdown averaged a 2.1 rating and 2,167,000 households (2,055,000 viewers) in 2010. The household impressions mark represents an eight percent increase from Countdown’s 2005 season (1,997,000 household impressions), the final year of ESPN’s previous NFL agreement;
• Monday Night Countdown had its highest-rated and most-viewed season ever in 2010, averaging a 2.7 rating and 2,729,000 households (3,532,000 viewers). In 2005 (the final year of ESPN’s previous NFL deal), Monday Night Countdown averaged 1,749,000 households for the season.

NFL Content on ESPN Digital Platforms:

·         ESPN averaged 42.2 million unique visitors on the site in fall 2010;

·         Sundays during the NFL season are the highest trafficked days of the year for ESPN.com

·         During the 2010 season, NFL content represented 39% of the page views generated on ESPN.com, highest of any sport.

·         The NFL fan spends over 50% more time with ESPN media than the average person;

·         ESPN.com NFL coverage on Sunday and Monday (including the home page, NFL section and Fantasy Football section) averaged 47.4 million visits and 271.4 million minutes of usage during the 2010 season, a year-to-year increase of 20% on visits and 20% on minutes.

·         NFL coverage (incl. NFL and Fantasy Football section) on the ESPN Mobile web site and ScoreCenter app in 2010 delivered 14.5 million visits and 101.4 million minutes each week, increases of 66% and 61%, respectively, versus the prior year.

ESPN’s 2011 Monday Night Football Schedule

The 42nd season of Monday Night Football will kick off on ESPN with a doubleheader Monday, September 12 – New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (1 a.m. CET) and Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (4:15 a.m. CET) – and will continue with a total of 17 prime-time games. Following a successful season that delivered the 16 biggest cable household audiences of the year, ESPN’s MNF schedule will feature all 12 playoff teams from 2010, including both the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the first game of the nationally televised ESPN week 1 doubleheader, wide receiver Brandon Marshall and the Dolphins will host divisional foe Tom Brady and the defending AFC East champion Patriots. The second game will pit Tim Tebow and the Broncos against the Raiders in Denver as the longtime AFC West rivals face one another for an NFL record 15th time under the Monday Night lights.

Play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico and analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call the Patriots-Dolphins opener, and the MNF games each week at 8:30 p.m. ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s 24-hour Spanish-language domestic sports network, will continue to offer a Spanish-language production of MNF games during the 2011 NFL season. Additional MNF “game around the game” content will be available throughout the day across ESPN’s multimedia platforms.

ESPN’s MNF Schedule Highlights:

• Appearances by both Super Bowl teams – Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings (11/14); and Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers (12/19);
• Nine of 17 MNF games involve divisional matchups, including Redskins at Cowboys (9/26), Vikings at Packers (11/14), Falcons at Saints (12/26);
• Nine NFL teams with multiple MNF appearances

Redskins-Cowboys renew their rivalry in September:

• Sept. 12: Season-opening doubleheader – Patriots at Dolphins and Raiders at Broncos. Denver continues NFL’s longest current streak of 20 consecutive seasons playing on MNF (1992-present);
• Sept. 19: Second-year quarterback Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams face Eli Manning and the New York Giants;
• Sept. 26: A classic NFC East matchup featuring Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Washington Redskins, the teams’ 14th meeting all-time on MNF.

MNF returns to Motown and Halloween night in Kansas City:

• Oct. 3: Peyton Manning and the AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts travel to Tampa to face Josh Freeman and the Buccaneers. ESPN’s Gruden will call his first MNF game at the stadium he once called home as the Bucs’ coach;
• Oct. 10: Jay Cutler and the defending NFC North champion Chicago Bears play Matthew Stafford and the upstart Lions as Detroit returns to MNF for first time in a decade (since Oct. 8, 2001).
• Oct. 17: The Dolphins travel North for a divisional matchup to face Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets, who advanced to the AFC Championship game last season;
• Oct. 24: Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens go head-to-head against Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Oct. 31: Matt Cassel and the AFC West champion Chiefs host Phillip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers on Halloween night in Kansas City;

Quarterback spotlight in November with Cutler, Vick, Rodgers, Brady and Brees on MNF:

• Nov. 7: In a big city NFC brawl on Broad Street, Jay Cutler and the Bears play Michael Vick and the defending NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles;
• Nov. 14: Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers and the champion Green Bay Packers host Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field in a key NFC North clash;
• Nov. 21: AFC contenders meet when Cassel, the former Patriots back-up, returns with the Chiefs to New England to play Brady and the Pats;
• Nov. 28: It’s a homecoming for Eli Manning when the Giants go marching into New Orleans to face Drew Brees and the Saints.

Falcons-Saints finale to again decide NFC South?:

• Dec. 5: The Chargers travel to Jacksonville to play Jones-Drew and the Jaguars;
• Dec. 12: In a rematch of the week 17 game in 2010 that decided the NFC West, the Rams face the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field;
• Dec. 19: Ben Roethlisberger and the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers face the San Francisco 49ers in a matchup of tradition-rich NFL franchises;
• Dec. 26: With hopes of recapturing the division from their NFC South rivals, Brees and the Saints host Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons in the MNF season finale.
  

ESPN's 2011 Monday Night Football Schedule

Preseason
Date	Time (CET)	Teams
Aug. 11	2 a.m.	Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers
Aug. 15	2 a.m.	New York Jets at Houston Texans
Aug. 22	2 a.m.	Chicago Bears at New York Giants
Aug. 25	2 a.m.	Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens
Regular Season
Sept. 12	1 a.m.	New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
	4:15 a.m.	Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos
Sept. 19	2:30 a.m.	St. Louis Rams at New York Giants
Sept. 26	2:30 a.m.	Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
Oct. 3	2:30 a.m.	Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Oct. 10	2:30 a.m..	Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Oct. 17	2:30 a.m.	Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
Oct. 24	2:30 a.m.	Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
Oct. 31	2:30 a.m.	San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Nov. 7	2:30 a.m.	Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles
Nov. 14	2:30 a.m..	Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Nov. 21	2:30 a.m.	Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots
Nov. 28	2:30 a.m.	New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
Dec. 5	2:30 a.m..	San Diego Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars
Dec. 12	2:30 a.m.	St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Dec. 19	2:30 a.m.	Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers
Dec. 26	2:30 a.m.	Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

ESPN’s Monday Night Football Wins the Night

Bears-Vikings Game Scores 11.6 Rating and 17.1 Million Viewers

Last ESPN’s Monday Night Football – a lopsided 40-14 Chicago Bears’ victory over the Minnesota Vikings earned an 11.6 rating (9.9 US rating), representing an average of 11,573,000 households (17,094,000 viewers – P2+), according to Nielsen.

MNF won the night among all programs (broadcast or cable) in households, viewers and all key male and adult demos, helping ESPN win the night among all networks for the fifth time this season. In addition, MNF has won the night in the men 18-34, men 18-49, adult 18-34 and adult 18-49 demos each Monday this season (15 consecutive weeks).

Through the first 15 weeks (16 games), ESPN’s MNF is averaging a 10.4 household rating (8.9 US rating), 10,337,000 households (14,370,000 viewers), slightly ahead in all categories versus 2009. ESPN MNF games rank as the 15 biggest audiences among households and the 11 biggest among total viewers for cable television in 2010 (including the 2009 MNF season finale – Minnesota vs. Chicago, 12/28/09 – which falls within the Nielsen 2010 calendar). Last night’s Bears-Vikings game ranks as the ninth most-viewed program among viewers in cable television history (excluding breaking news), according to Nielsen. For the year, it ranks as cable television’s sixth most-viewed cable program among households and fourth most-watched among viewers.

ESPN.com had 164 million page views (a 12 percent increase) and 237 million minutes (a 24 percent gain) generated with NFL content on Sunday and Monday. ESPN’s Mobile web site had 62 million page views (a 72 percent increase) and 105 million minutes (a 191 percent spike) spent with NFL content on the ESPN mobile web site and ScoreCenter App.

MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN

ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown (7-8:30 p.m.) also performed well Monday night, registering its most-viewed 90-minute show ever – 3,489,000 households and 5,046,000 viewers, based on a 3.5 household rating, the highest rating ever for a 90-minute Countdown. The Oct. 5, 2009 show, which preceded Brett Favre’s first game for the Vikings against his former Green Bay Packers team, also had a 3.5 rating and previously ranked as the most-viewed with 3,476,000 households and 4,540,000 viewers.

MNF SEASON FINALE NEXT WEEK

ESPN’s 2010 MNF season concludes next week (Dec. 27) with Matt Ryan and the NFC-leading Atlanta Falcons (12-2) hosting Drew Brees and the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints (10-4) at 8:30 p.m. ET in a game with major playoff implications for both teams. ESPN’s game around the game coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. with NFL Live and continues throughout the afternoon.

ESPN’s most-viewed MNF games

Top 15 Most-Viewed Monday Night Football Games on ESPN (Viewers):

Rank	Date	Program	Viewers (000s)	HHs (000s)
1.	10/05/2009	Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings	21,839	15,136
2.	11/30/2009	New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints	21,402	14,872
3.	09/15/2008	Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys	18,608	12,953
4.	10/25/2010	New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys	17,953	12,948
5.	12/03/2007	New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens	17,522	12,529
6.	09/27/2010	Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears	17,454	12,482
7.	10/11/2010	Minnesota Vikings-New York Jets	17,313	12,454
8.	12/20/2010	Chicago Bears-Minnesota Vikings	17,094	11,573
9.	12/28/2009	Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears	17,006	11,899
10.	12/06/2010	New York Jets-New England Patriots	16,533	11,597
11.	10/23/2006	New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys	16,028	11,807
12.	11/09/2009	Pittsburgh Steelers-Denver Broncos	16,002	11,358
13.	09/28/2009	Carolina Panthers-Dallas Cowboys	15,705	11,354
14.	09/20/2010	New Orleans Saints-San Francisco 49ers	15,120	10,904
15.	09/25/2006	Atlanta Falcons-New Orleans Saints	14,999	10,850

 
Top 10 Most-Viewed Programs in Cable Television History (Households):

Rank	Date	Program	Network	HHs (000s)
1.	10/05/2009	Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings	ESPN	15,136
2.	11/30/2009	New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints	ESPN	14,872
3.	09/15/2008	Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys	ESPN	12,953
4.	10/25/2010	New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys	ESPN	12,948
5.	12/03/2007	New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens	ESPN	12,529
6.	09/27/2010	Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears	ESPN	12,482
7.	10/11/2010	Minnesota Vikings-New York Jets	ESPN	12,454
8.	12/28/2009	Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears	ESPN	11,899
9.	10/23/2006	New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys	ESPN	11,807
10.	12/06/2010	New York Jets-New England Patriots	ESPN	11,597

Top 10 Most-Viewed Programs in Cable Television History (Viewers):

Rank	Date	Program	Network	Viewers (000s)
1.	10/05/2009	Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings	ESPN	21,839
2.	11/30/2009	New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints	ESPN	21,402
3.	09/15/2008	Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys	ESPN	18,608
4.	10/25/2010	New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys	ESPN	17,953
5.	12/03/2007	New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens	ESPN	17,522
6.	09/27/2010	Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears	ESPN	17,454
7.	10/11/2010	Minnesota Vikings-New York Jets	ESPN	17,313
8.	08/17/2007	High School Musical 2	Disney	17,241
9.	12/20/2010	Chicago Bears-Minnesota Vikings	ESPN	17,094
10.	12/28/2009	Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears	ESPN	17,006

Note: excluding breaking news; live + same day
* all-time cable television viewership record (households and total viewers)
2010 MNF games in bold

Monday Night Football: Chicago & Minnesota in Vikings’ First Outdoor Home Game in 29 Years

Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings will host Jay Cutler and the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears in a matchup of longtime divisional rivals on ESPN’s Monday Night Football Dec. 20 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN America and ESPN HD. Mike Tirico and analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call the game, and Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber will provide updates on the teams throughout the day from TCF Bank Stadium In Minneapolis.

The MNF game is being played at the on-campus stadium at the University of Minnesota as a result of damage sustained to the roof of the Metrodome during last week’s major snowstorm. Coincidentally, Monday's game marks the 29th anniversary to the day (Dec. 20, 1981) that the Vikings played their last home NFL game outdoors, a 10-6 loss to the Chiefs in their final game at Metropolitan Stadium.

The Bears (9-4) have a one-game lead over the Packers and can secure a playoff spot with a Monday win. Chicago, 4-0 in the NFC North, is one of only three NFL teams with a perfect record divisional record this season.

Monday’s telecast will begin with a Frank Gifford MNF vignette highlighting the 2009 MNF season finale when the Bears defeated the playoff-bound Vikings 36-30 in overtime in frigid late-December conditions at Soldier Field in Chicago.

ESPN’s “game around the game” studio coverage will begin at noon on SportsCenter, followed by NFL Live (3:30 p.m.) and NFL PrimeTime (4 p.m.). The 90-minute Monday Night Countdown pregame will begin at 7 p.m. with host Chris Berman and analysts Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Mortensen, and NFL Insider Adam Schefter.  Analyst Cris Carter, who will be honored as a member of the Vikings’ 50th anniversary team Monday night at the game, will make a special appearance from the stadium, joining Stuart Scott and analysts Matt Millen and Steve Young.

Monday Night Football: Jets at Patriots

In one of the marquee matchups of the entire NFL schedule, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots (9-2) will host Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets (9-2) in a battle of the AFC’s top teams on Monday Night Football on Dec. 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN America, ESPN and ESPN HD. The winner of this critical game will take the lead in the AFC East with just a month left in the regular-season. Mike Tirico and analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call the game, and Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber will provide updates on the teams from Gillette Stadium.

Monday’s telecast will begin with a Frank Gifford vignette highlighting then-Jets head coach Bill Parcells’ return to Foxboro Stadium Oct. 19, 1998, to face his former Patriots team for the first time on Monday night. Dubbed Tuna Bowl III, the Jets beat their AFC East rivals 24-14 and Parcells went on to lead New York to its first division title since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Monday’s game marks just the fourth time two teams with 9-2 records or better are playing each other on MNF, and the first time since 1990. All three previous occasions featured the San Francisco 49ers under quarterback Joe Montana: Bears (10-2) vs. 49ers (10-2), 1987; Giants (9-2) vs. 49ers (9-2), 1989; and Giants (10-1) vs. 49ers (10-1), 1990.

Additionally, ESPN NFL analyst and former All-Pro Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi will be honored by his former team at halftime.  Bruschi’s 189 regular-season games played are the most by a Patriots linebacker.  He retired in 2009 after being part of nine postseason appearances, eight division titles, five conference championships, and three Super Bowl titles.

ESPN’s “game around the game” will begin with ESPN Radio/ESPN2’s Mike and Mike in the Morning live from Showcase Live at Patriot Place at 6 a.m.  Studio coverage will begin at noon on SportsCenter, followed by NFL Live at 3:30 p.m. and NFL PrimeTime at 4 p.m.  The 90-minute Monday Night Countdown pregame will begin at 7 p.m. with host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Mortensen, and NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Stuart Scott and analysts Matt Millen and Steve Young will contribute from the stadium.

Monday Night Football: Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans will face Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jacksonville Jaguars in a key AFC South division matchup on ESPN’s Monday Night Football Oct. 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN HD. Mike Tirico and analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call the game, and Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber will provide updates throughout the day from EverBank Field.

Monday’s telecast will begin with a Frank Gifford vignette highlighting the last time the Titans and Jaguars met on Monday night, when Steve McNair and Eddie George led Tennessee to a 27-13 victory in the franchise’s MNF debut in 2000.

ESPN’s “game around the game” studio coverage will begin at noon on SportsCenter, followed by NFL Live (3:30 p.m.) and NFL PrimeTime (4 p.m.). The 90-minute Monday Night Countdown pregame will begin at 7 p.m. with host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Mortensen, and NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Stuart Scott and analysts Matt Millen and Steve Young will contribute from the stadium.

Monday Night Football Season Finale: Vikings vs. Bears

The Monday Night Football season finale features an old-fashioned NFC North rivalry when Brett Favre and the division-leading Minnesota Vikings continue their push toward the playoffs when they travel to the Windy City to face Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN HD. The Dec. 28 game marks the 11th meeting between the two Midwest rivals on Monday night; the Vikings lead 4-6. Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call the game with reporters Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya. Álvaro Martin (play-by-play) and Raúl Allegre (analyst) will call the Spanish-language telecast on ESPN Deportes with reporter John Sutcliffe.

Monday Night Football Preseason Opener

ESPN’s Most-Viewed Non-Monday Preseason Game Since 1994

The opening preseason telecast of ESPN’s Monday Night Football, a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, earned a 3.6 rating, representing an average of 3,567,000 households (4,755,000 viewers – P2+). It was ESPN’s most-viewed non-Monday preseason game since 1994 (42 total non-Monday games since Dallas-New Orleans on Aug. 25, 1994 -- 4,280,000 HHs).

ESPN's game was the most-viewed program of the day (cable or broadcast) among all key male demos. Additionally, ESPN was the No. 1 network for the night (cable or broadcast) among all key male demos, P18-34, and P18-49; ESPN ranked 2nd for the night among households and viewers.

ESPN’s new commentator team of Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden made its debut during the Steelers’ 20-10 victory. In addition, the telecast included breaking news coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles signing Michael Vick, which was reported by ESPN’s senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

THIS WEEK ON MNF

ESPN’s MNF preseason schedule continues Monday, Aug. 17, with the Carolina Panthers visiting the New York Giants at 8 p.m. ET. The telecast will be preceded by a one-hour Monday Night Countdown pregame show.