‘Monday Night Football’ Ratings Soar 63 Percent With National Anthem Protest

Last year’s game was opposite presidential debate

Jerry Jones Dallas Cowboys Take A Knee

ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” was up big in ratings this week after opting to break with tradition and air the national anthem.

The game between the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals got a 9.3 overnight rating.

This marked a 63 percent increase over last year’s match between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. However, that game was way down due to airing opposite the presidential debate.

This week’s numbers also include streaming numbers, which means the addition of a few hundred thousand people. ESPN didn’t count OTT viewership in last year’s ratings numbers.

During last night’s game, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took a knee with players before the anthem, and the team’s members locked arms during the tune that was performed by Jordin Sparks.

This followed Donald Trump’s recent criticism of players who elect not to stand during the anthem.

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