The Denver Gazette sports business insider is a reader’s guide to understanding the influence of money, politics and power behind their favorite leagues, teams and players:

Sports business insider: The Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns game this week on ESPN’s Monday Night Football drew 12 million viewers.

Short version: The Broncos defeated the Browns, 41-32, at Empower Field. Denver improved its record to 8-5 entering the bye week and remains in playoff contention.

ESPN senior director of communications Derek Volner told The Denver Gazette late Thursday the Broncos-Browns game delivered 12 million viewers between ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Long version: The NFL likely considered flexing Broncos-Browns out of the MNF timeslot in the month approaching their game. Denver initially lacked consistency with rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Cleveland lost starting QB Deshaun Watson for the season to a knee injury. But Nix caught fire, and QB Jameis Winston sparked a Browns turnaround.

The league kept the matchup. Fans watching on TV got rewarded with a wildly entertaining shootout.

But it seems the appeal of Broncos-Browns still lagged behind other marquee MNF games. Last week, ESPN reported that five Monday Night Football games this season have exceeded 17 million viewers. The Ravens-Chargers matchup drew 17.4 million, citing Nielsen data.

Key context: The Giants-Cowboys matchup played on Thanksgiving Day was the most watched NFL game of the season with 38.5 million viewers, according to FOX Sports public relations. It didn’t matter that it featured two backup quarterbacks in Drew Lock (NYG) and Cooper Rush (DAL). That’s more evidence the NFL is beloved by national TV audiences, especially during the holidays.

Looking ahead: The Broncos opened their 2024 season with only two games scheduled in evening time slots: Oct. 17 at New Orleans and Monday night against Cleveland. But the league is taking notice of Denver’s rising national profile, and it flexed a Week 16 matchup at the Chargers to Thursday night (Dec. 19). The kickoff time/date for Week 17 (at Cincinnati) and Week 18 (vs. Kansas City) have yet to be determined.

Broncos Country should expect more night games moving forward if the team continues on its current trajectory.