ESPN will televise four NFL games as part of its 2010 Monday Night Football preseason schedule, including the first football game at the New Meadowlands Stadium when the New York Giants play the cross-town rival Jets August 16 at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN’s MNF commentator team of Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call all four MNF preseason games in anticipation of their regular-season opener – also at the New Meadowlands Stadium – on Monday, Sept. 13. All MNF preseason games will begin at 8 p.m.
MNF kicks off its preseason schedule when Joe Flacco and the Ravens host the Carolina Panthers Thursday, August 12 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Four days later, Eli Manning and the Giants face Mark Sanchez and the Jets (Aug. 16) in the annual preseason matchup of New York teams as the NFL’s newest stadium makes its national television debut in primetime.
On Monday, Aug. 23, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals travel east to face 2009 NFL leading rusher Chris Johnson and the Tennessee Titans.
ESPN will conclude its preseason schedule when NFL MVP Peyton Manning and the defending AFC champion Indianapolis Colts play Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Thursday, August 26.
ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s 24-hour Spanish-language domestic sports network, will once again offer a Spanish-language production of MNF preseason and regular season games in 2010.
In 2009, ESPN had its most-viewed NFL preseason ever and its highest-rated since 2006, averaging a 4.3 rating, 4,233,000 households, and 5,516,000 viewers (P2+) over four games, representing increases of 41%, 45%, and 44%, respectively over the previous year.
ESPN’s Monday Night Football 2010 NFL Preseason Schedule:
Date Time (ET) Teams
Thursday, Aug. 12 8 p.m. Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens
Monday, Aug. 16 8 p.m. New York Giants at New York Jets
Monday, Aug. 23 8 p.m. Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans
Thursday, Aug. 26 8 p.m. Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers
