Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes under pressure from Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (90) and protective end Derek Wolfe (95) throughout the Kansas City Chiefs video game versus the Baltimore Ravens on September 28, 2020 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
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Perhaps the most interesting match of the National Football League’s Week 3 schedule settled for ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ 34-20 success over the Baltimore Ravens balanced 14 million audiences, substantially greater than the week one average of 10.8 million audiences. The video game peaked in the very first half at 16.2 million audiences around 9: 30 p.m. to 9: 45 p.m, the network stated.
The leading 5 markets for the contest exterior Kansas City and Baltimore consisted of Denver, San Diego, Pittsburgh.
Monday’s video game included the last 2 NFL MVP quarterbacks in the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Ravens Lamar Jackson, the ruling winner.
Mahomes, who likewise won the Super Bowl LIV MVP and concurred a 10-year $503 million extension in July, tossed for 385 backyards, 4 goals and one hurrying goal. Jackson contended 15 of 28 passes for 97 backyards and one goal. He likewise ran for 83 backyards and one goal.
Dan Cohen, senior vice president of Octagon’s Global Media Rights Consulting department, stated the video game’s strong viewership reveals the effect of the NFL’s star power beyond its clubs.
“Much like other sports, especially the NBA as a comparison, this speaks to the growing trend that athletes are driving a greater share of tune-in and engagement over the individual team itself,” he stated.
“I may not be a Chiefs or Ravens fan, but I want to watch Mahomes and Jackson because I am a fan of one or both. Some may call this the ‘LeBron effect.'”
Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens stiff arms Juan Thornhill #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium on September 28, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Todd Olszewski | Getty Images
“These guys are the new face of the NFL, the two of them,” included Neal Pilson, creator of seeking advice from company Pilson Communications.
Pilson, who invested 13 years as president of CBS Sports, stated Mahomes and Jackson continue to grow “into household names” and their nationwide interest ought to “fuel” more strong viewership numbers for their groups.
“It’s more than just the one game,” Pilson included. “It feeds the entire season, and that’s a plus. That’s why the NFL is the NFL, and nobody else is the NFL. You get these opportunities for national games and personal rivalries. It is what the NFL is designed to be.”
After reporting a 17% drop in week 1 versus in 2015’s Monday Night Football launching, ESPN states its MNF viewership is up 4% season-to-date from its 2019 viewership after 4 video games and averaging 12 million audiences per video game.
Pilson warned to “resist the temptation” of thinking NFL viewership would suffer long-lasting after beginning the year with decreases. He stated with altering intake practices and “other compelling options” for audiences to choose, a week of down rankings isn’t worrying.
“Ratings go up and down depending on who is playing but also depending on what else is on the air,” he stated, forecasting more viewership decreases in sports as the governmental election is almost a month away.
“Even if ratings are down, there aren’t many other better options,” stated Pilson. “When you look at the available choices for networks and sponsors, the NFL is number one.”
