ESPN’s Eagles-centric “Monday Night Football” angered viewers

If you were a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, you may have seen the ESPN presentation of the Monday Night Football When the Eagles faced the Atlanta Falcons, it must have felt like you were watching a de facto home broadcast.

If you were an Atlanta Falcons fan, you probably weren't that excited.

And if you're a fan of another NFL franchise and don't particularly like the Eagles, you're probably fed up with them for the rest of the season.

It made sense why ESPN bet everything on Philly on Monday night. Jason Kelce is already a shooting star for Monday evening countdown and the broadcaster capitalized on his Eagles attitude during a pregame celebration where the former NFL star brought out all of his patented charm and loud noises.

Jason Kelce returns to Philadelphia for ESPN's Monday Night Countdown. 🏈📺🎙️🦅 #Thank you #NFL pic.twitter.com/dwmpE8RrDw

— Awful Announcement (@awfulannouncing) 16 September 2024

ESPN also turned the evening into a kind of Jason Kelce Appreciation Night, with Adam Schefter put on an outfit like the one Kelce wore in Philly's 2018 Super Bowl parade. The former Eagles player also appeared in the locker room with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman during the broadcast and ended by saying “Go Eagles” to the camera.

Jason Kelce leaves the ESPN Monday Night Football booth. 📺🎙️🏈 #Thank you #NFL pic.twitter.com/k9vvGJ7Owo

— Awful Announcement (@awfulannouncing) 17 September 2024

Falcons fans had little to do on ESPN, as the ManningCast featured Bill Belichick in the first half. Perhaps it was because Atlanta decided not to hire him as head coach during the offseason, but Belichick seemed particularly keen on their poor play, even taking a cheeky swipe at owner Arthur Blank.

Bill Belichick remembers the Patriots’ 28-3 comeback win against the Falcons on #ManningCast.

“I remember, [Arthur] Blank was on the sidelines in the fourth quarter celebrating when they were ahead… He's a pretty good dresser. Arthur always looks sharp, but he was… pic.twitter.com/KR08Apxw3p

— Awful Announcement (@awfulannouncing) 17 September 2024

He was followed by a Appearance of actor Miles Tellera big Eagles fan.

Only in the last segment did the ManningCast get something Falcons-friendly help from Matt Ryanwho was quarterback for the team for 13 seasons.

All in all, the Eagles-centric broadcast did not go down well with many viewers, including the sports media, who were a little tired of seeing so much green and white in the locker rooms.

Looks like Jason Kelce is leaving the booth. Maybe Brian Dawkins will join Joe and Troy next to host the show with an E- A- G- L- E- S Eagles chant.

Or maybe we could just go back to the game.

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) 17 September 2024

Should I say what I want about this ridiculous ESPN broadcast and get a beating from everyone on Twitter or should I keep my mouth shut and have a quiet night? Hmm…

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) 17 September 2024

As a Falcons fan, I find it pretty odd that a commentator would openly cheer for the Eagles. Thanks, ESPN!

— Lang Whitaker (@langwhitaker) 17 September 2024

ESPN makes it look like Jason Kelce invented football

– Paul Lambert (@MeatSauce1) 17 September 2024

Of course I love Kelce, but ESPN has kept him on the air faaaaar too long. It's an Eagles broadcast now, not a national one. I imagine Falcons fans are unhappy.

— @BrianDelaney (@BrianCDelaney) 17 September 2024

If there was one saving grace for Falcons fans and Eagles haters, it was that Philadelphia blew the game at the end and let Atlanta win. Many people were gloating.

This is what Falcons fans deserve after ESPN showed them a broadcast from the Eagles' hometown.

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) 17 September 2024

The victory was all the more beautiful after Belichick had made such blatant nasty comments about the Falcons' management during his conversation with the Mannings on the Manningcast. #youdidn'tgetthejob

— steakshapiro (@steakshapiro) 17 September 2024

Even if the game isn't in Philadelphia, you can expect to see plenty of Jason Kelce on your TV screen on Monday night. Then again, with all the commercials and media appearances, you can probably expect that at every NFL game this season. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to you.

While Monday's Eagles-focused broadcast may have been a bit over the top, it still pales in comparison to ESPN's New York Knicks-fest during last season's NBA playoffs.

[ESPN]