Favre's matchup with Packers draws record television audience

BRISTOL, Conn. -- Brett Favre's matchup with his former team has attracted the largest cable television audience ever.

His Minnesota Vikings' 30-23 win over the Green Bay Packers on ESPN's Monday Night Football was watched by more than 21.8 million people. The previous record was more than 18.6 million viewers for last year's Monday night game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

ESPN also said Tuesday that the game drew the highest rating in the network's 30-year history. The 15.3 rating beat the 14.4 for a Bears-Vikings game on Dec. 6, 1987, during ESPN's first season of televising NFL games.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press