Monday Night Football Ratings Approach Historic Low Opposite Debate

As expected, the across the board 2016 NFL ratings drop continued last night — with Monday Night Football airing opposite the presidential debate. The historic franchise’s numbers approached an all-time low, in fact, with the Saints-Falcons game notching a 5.7 overnight rating.

That according to Sports Media Watch — which adds that if the overnight number holds, it will only slightly beat the 5.1 mark, which stands as the lowest MNF rating ever.

Sports Media Watch notes that the last MNF game to air opposite a debate was a 2012 tilt between the Bears and the Lions. That game notched a 7.3 overnight.

As for other NFL ratings this week, Sports Business Daily reports that the Bears-Cowboys Sunday night match-up was down 7 percent from the game which aired in that slot a year ago. This number is particularly eye-opening given that the Bears and the Cowboys are typically two reliable draws for the league.

Monday Night Football figures to see an uptick this week, with the 3-0 Vikings set to take on the 2-1 Giants.

[image via ShutterStock]

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