ESPN'S NFL COVERAGE UP 38% VS. 2005

PLUS QUOTES & NOTES FROM LAST NIGHT 20 MILLION PAGE VIEWS MONDAY FOR ESPN.COM, UP 47% FROM 2005 FOR THE SEASON, ESPN LEADS ALL NETWORKS FOR MALE VIEWERS ON MONDAYS

Last night's 27-24 victory by the Philadelphia Eagles over the Carolina Panthers on ESPN's Monday Night Football earned a 8.6 rating, representing an average of 7,972,000 homes (10,520,000 viewers, P2+). The game was simulcast on local over-the-air channels in Philadelphia (17.0 rating) and Charlotte (13.2 rating), boosting ESPN's audience to an estimated average of 8,600,000 households. The total also includes those viewing in high definition on ESPN HD.

NFL Season to Date

* MNF on ESPN is averaging a 10.0 rating and 9,204,000 homes (12,370,000 P2+) for 14 games in 13 weeks. These represent increases of 38%, 41% and 40%, respectively, compared to the first 13 weeks of last year's ESPN Sunday Night Football (7.2 rating, 6.529 million homes, 8.827 million viewers).

* ESPN leads all networks - cable or broadcast - in delivery of all key male demos on Mondays in primetime: men 18+, men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54.

* ESPN leads all cable networks in overall household delivery in primetime (an average of 2,571,000 households throughout the week).

* ESPN's 14 MNF games so far are cable television's largest 14 household audiences of the year.

"Monday Night Surround" on ESPN.com

Online, ESPN.com's NFL and "Monday Night Surround" content viewed on computers and wireless devices generated more than 20 million page views Monday, up 47% over page views last year according to Web measurement tool HitBox. In addition, there were 1.65 million views of pro-football-related videos on ESPN Motion and ESPN360 on Monday (through Tuesday at noon).

LAST NIGHT ON MNF

GARCIA GRATEFUL FOR SHORT PASSES

"That pass was thrown 23 yards. Why is that significant? Last week against the Colts, Jeff Garcia didn't go down the field at all... 17 of his 23 passes went less than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage. Six passes going from 10 to 19 yards in the air. And, not one pass was thrown in the air over 20 yards." - Mike Tirico

Accompanying graphic: PASS CHART Last Week vs Colts 0 Passes 20 Yards 4-6, 61 yds 10 yards 15-17, 79 yds

GRAPHIC: EAGLES ALLOWED 5.3 YARDS A RUSH PAST 4 GAMES

"The Eagles are known for having a great defense. When they were contending in the NFC, they had great defenses." - Tony Kornheiser

"Because they had help from the offense. They're not getting it from that side of the ball (this season)." - Joe Theismann

WHERE'S WILBON?

"Did you see the quarterback rating Rex Grossman had yesterday (Sunday)? 1.3. PTI gets a higher rating than that." -- Kornheiser

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

"Among active players, only Tom Brady and Donovan McNabb have a better Red Zone career passer rating than Garcia who adds to it with a Westbrook touchdown." - Tirico, perfect timing as Garcia's TD pass put a period on his factoid.

Accompanying graphic: Jeff Garcia 94.4 Career Passer Ratings in Red Zone (3rd Among Active Players) Minimum: 300 such passes

WISE WESTBROOK PONDERS NEW G-G-GENERATION

"He (Eagles RB Brian Westbrook) sees a pretty big generation gap. He said team leaders, like him, all of 27 years old, have been pulling the young guys along. And he said it seems like the younger generation of players are just so mentally fragile - if you yell at them, they shut it down." -- Suzy Kolber

"That was the laugher at our meeting - he looked around and said, 'This generation just doesn't get it.' C'mon, you're 27!" - Tirico

"I have ties older than that." - Kornheiser

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY THROW HIM THE DAMN BALL

"Keyshawn Johnson is having fun. He scored that touchdown just before halftime, and as he went to the locker room, he went on a rant to the Philly fans, telling them, 'I own you. This is my house. Every time I come here I'm gonna score on you. You all should just go home early.'" - Michele Tafoya's sideline insight

KEYSHAWN'S CATCHING ON

"He's done it for four teams with a variety of quarterbacks." - Tirico, after Keyshawn Johnson made his 800th career reception

Accompanying Graphic: Players to Throw TD Pass to Keyshawn Johnson Neil O'Donnell (Jets) Frank Reich (Jets) Glenn Foley (Jets) Vinny Testaverde (Jets) Tom Tupa (Jets) Rick Mirer (Jets) Ray Lucas (Jets) Shaun King (Bucs) Brad Johnson Bucs) Rob Johnson (Bucs) Drew Bledsoe (Cowboys) Jake Delhomme (Panthers)

WHAT ELSE DID YOU EXPECT?

Delhomme's fourth-quarter interception, on third-and-seven, came immediately after this ominous graphic: Jake Delhomme 52.4 Rating on Third-Down Passes This Season (Lowest in NFL)

SKYCAM CAPTURES COMINGS AND GOINGS

* SKYCAM, from behind Delhomme, saw his pass intercepted, and followed Brian Dawkins stride-for-stride on his return.

* SKYCAM presented a great view of Nick Goings returning a kick, finally being tackled by Roderick Hood and Quintin Mickell directly underneath the camera allowing for an overhead view.

"YO! ROCKY'S READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL

Sylvester Stallone (aka Rocky Balboa), was the in-booth, second-quarter guest.

NEXT WEEK ON MNF

Next week, ESPN's MNF will feature the Chicago Bears visiting the St. Louis Rams at 8:30 p.m.