In a game that offered very little in terms of NFL playoff implications, ESPN reported its best numbers for the year for a Monday Night Football game.

The Detroit Lions entered the game as the best team in the NFC and could have been forgiven if they gave their starters a rest before a colossal matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18.

Opposite them was the San Francisco 49ers, a team hampered by injuries that had already been eliminated from playoff contention.

But the game itself was an intense affair and led to multiple millions of fans tuning in to watch the action.

ESPN reported that 22.2million people tuned in to watch – both on its network and on ABC – making it the most-viewed MNF game of the year.

It’s also one of the five most-watched MNF games since the Worldwide Leader in Sports took over the broadcast rights in 2006.

ESPN reported that 22.2million viewers tuned in to watch the Lions-Niners MNF game

It’s some of the highest MNF viewership ESPN has seen since taking over broadcasts in 2006

The Lions only won the game by six points as they held off the Niners 40-34.

The game had everything – missed kicks from San Francisco’s Jake Moody, an injury to Niners quarterback Brock Purdy, and even a fight between the two teams.

San Francisco fell to 6-10 on the season following the defeat while the Lions improved to 14-2.

Detroit can lock up the top spot in the NFC next week with a win over the Vikings on the road in a Sunday Night Football matchup that may prove to be the biggest ratings boon for the season.

Meanwhile, San Francisco’s troubled season will end on the road against the division rival Arizona Cardinals.