Despite presidential controversy amid a prominent NFL protest movement, and a tepid Sunday Night Football, a large audience for Monday Night Football actually propelled the NFL’s third week into a year-over-year ratings improvement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The outlet reported that the average rating across all Sunday and Monday game was up 3% compared to the same week in 2016.
The Monday Night Football matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals made for the strongest ratings for a MNF game this season. Ratings for the game rose 63% above the week three game from 2016, according to ESPN, though that game suffered from being in direct competition with a presidential debate.
As ESPN broke with tradition to air the national anthem before the MNF game, the entire Dallas Cowboys team, including owner Jerry Jones, kneeled together before the anthem. The unified image capped off a weekend that saw over 200 players kneel during the anthem in protest of police brutality, racial injustice, and the divisive comments of President Trump, who repeatedly stated that any kneeling protester should be “fired,” while attacking the league’s “bad ratings.”
If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
