Tonight’s game between Vikings and Giants could be the worst in Monday Night Football history

Last night, on NBC, Peyton Manning made his emotional return to Indianapolis in the most heavily hyped game of the NFL season. Tonight, on ESPN, the 0-6 Giants host the 1-4 Vikings in a game only relevant in the world of fantasy football. 

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, tonight's matchup is, on paper, the worst in the history of Monday Night Football at this point in a season. In fact, it's been a tough year for MNF in general. While NBC seems to have a top-end game every week, ESPN has been stuck with shoddy matchups like Broncos-Raiders and Jets-Falcons. Mild-mannered MNF play-by-play man Mike Tirico even showed some frustration when discussing that Denver-Oakland matchup recently, according to the Sherman Report:

“On Monday night, you deserve to see teams that are good, and the Raiders have not been good for a decade,” Tirico said. “I don’t think that best serves the customer, the NFL fan. You get Peyton Manning. That’s great. You want to see him against a quality opponent in one of his five or six primetime games as opposed to a team like the Raiders, coming off a bad season in a perpetual rebuild….I don’t think the Raiders are a team that America needs to see in primetime on national TV."

With that in mind, we bring you the 10 worst matchups* in Monday Night Football history…

10. Saints (5-7) vs. Falcons (3-9), 2007: Combined winning percentage of .333.

9. Chiefs (4-8) vs. Titans (4-8), 2004: Combined winning percentage of .333.

8. 49ers (3-7) vs. Cardinals (3-7), 2010: Combined winning percentage of .300.

7. Packers (3-10) vs. Ravens (4-9), 2005: Combined winning percentage of .269.

6. 49ers (4-11) vs. Falcons (4-11), 1999: Combined winning percentage of .267.

5. Bears (1-5) vs. Lions (2-4), 2001: Combined winning percentage of .250.

4. Colts (1-6) vs. Patriots (2-5), 1972: Combined winning percentage of .214. 

3. Jets (3-9) at Chargers (1-11), 1975: Combined winning percentage of .167.

2. Vikings (1-4) at Giants (0-6), 2013: Combined winning percentage of .091. 

1. Redskins (0-4) at Cowboys (0-4), 2001: Combined winning percentage of .000.

* Minimum of four weeks into the season.

About Brad Gagnon

Brad Gagnon has been passionate about both sports and mass media since he was in diapers -- a passion that won't die until he's in them again. Based in Toronto, he's worked as a national NFL blog editor at theScore.com (covering Super Bowls XLIV, XLV and XLVI), a producer and writer at theScore Television Network and a host, reporter and play-by-play voice at Rogers TV. His work has also appeared at Deadspin, FoxSports.com, The Guardian, The Hockey News and elsewhere at Bloguin, but his day gig has him covering all things NFC East for Bleacher Report.

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