Chiefs-Rams instant classic does huge ratings for 'Monday Night Football'

The only surprise from the television ratings of the Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Rams thriller was that they weren’t even higher.

Still, ESPN will gladly take its highest-rated “Monday Night Football” telecast since 2014.

According to ESPN spokeman Bill Hofheimer, the Chiefs-Rams overnight rating of 11.3 is the highest overnight rating for “MNF” since 2014. The rating peaked on the final drive at 12.5. The Rams won 54-51.

All of the people who tuned in — aside from “What about defense?” curmudgeons who could complain about anything — got to enjoy perhaps the greatest regular-season game in NFL history.

Chiefs-Rams was a huge ratings increase from Week 11 last season

While comparing ratings for similar time slots the previous year is flawed, ESPN was happy with that outcome too.

The rating for Monday night was 57 percent better than the Monday night game in Week 11 last season. That game was actually an entertaining Falcons win over the Seahawks that went down to the last minute.

It’s rare for a game with as much buildup as Chiefs-Rams to live up to the hype, but it did.

‘Monday Night Football’ delivered an all-time classic

The Chiefs and Rams combined for 105 points and 1,001 yards. It was the highest scoring game in “Monday Night Football” history and the first time in an NFL game that both teams scored 50 points. The sixth and final lead change came on Jared Goff’s game-winning 40-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Everett with less than two minutes remaining.

It was a game that had a little bit of everything, and we’ll remember it for years. If you weren’t one of the many millions who tuned in, you missed quite a show.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) catches a pass in front of Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Murray on Monday night. (AP)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) catches a pass in front of Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Murray on Monday night. (AP)

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Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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