The previous biggest audience was 18.6 million for the Dallas Cowboys’ 41-37 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
The appearance of NFL legend Brett Favre – three times a NFL Most Valuable Player and winner of a Super Bowl title with the Packers – playing against his old club was a big draw for the US audience. Favre became the only player to win against all 32 of the NFL’s current teams.
Bloomberg reports that ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said the record audience was down to a “combination of an incredible storyline and anticipation leading into the game, a quality game on the field and the long-term tradition of Monday Night Football.”
