The 23-10 win against the Denver Broncos turned potential embarrassment into redemption for the team - and provided a shot in the arm for Cincinnati's ego and image.

In one of the highest-rated Monday Night Football games ever locally, the Bengals made their first appearance since 1992 and hosted their first game since 1989.

"Everybody was lifted by the whole thing. It was a Chamber of Commerce night and a great showcase for Cincinnati," said Mayor Charlie Luken, who attended the game. "I have said for a long time that we have reason to feel better about ourselves than we do. This kind of event helps get us where we need to be."

Having broadcasters John Madden and Al Michaels raving about Cincinnati landmarks - they mentioned the skyline, the Suspension Bridge and Skyline Chili - was another boost, he added

"It is verification for a lot of people how we have a good city and how proud we should be of the city. We've been missing that," Luken said.

To rally team support, several bars and restaurants threw Bengals-themed happy hours and parties.

The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Cincinnati Inc., and other organizations that promote the city held a "Light Up Cincinnati" program, encouraging businesses to leave the lights on from dusk to midnight to showcase the skyline.

"Our city came off in such a great light on national television," said Anastasia Mileham, vice president of marketing and communication for DCI, noting that Michaels and Madden kept remarking during the broadcast on the Bengals' fan spirit.

At one point, Michaels even said of Cincinnati: "The city is electric."

The Monday Night Football broadcast scored big in the local ratings. It drew a 34 percent rating and a 51 share.

The 34 percent rating meant about one-third of the region's 850,000 households were watching the game. The 51 share meant more than half of the television sets turned on at the time were tuned to the game.

Bill Fee, general manager at WCPO-TV, called it "a huge number," more than double the local viewership for MNF. The numbers rose as the game went on, culminating at 64 percent from midnight to 12:30 a.m.

"The fact that the Bengals were competitive throughout the game and eventually won it contributed to the rating," Fee said.

Nationally, the telecast's ratings were typical for Monday Night Football, said Adam Freifeld, senior publicist for ABC Sports.

The broadcast drew an 11 percent rating and an 18 share, meaning about 17 million people were watching across the country.

"Cincinnati did a great job last night," said Fred Gaudelli, producer of Monday Night Football. "The crowd was into it before, during and after the game. The team did a great job.

"For the most part, the city looked good. The biggest disappointment was why wasn't Great American Ball Park lit up, especially since Al Michaels used to call Reds games."

Michaels, the play-by-play voice of Monday Night Football, was the Reds play-by-play voice on radio from 1971-73.

John Allen, the Reds' chief operating officer, blamed the cost for not lighting up the ballpark. Allen estimated that flipping the switch for the light towers would have cost the Reds "several thousand dollars."

Would the Bengals face another 12-year absence from Monday Night Football?

"Speaking again for myself, they've got to get into the playoffs," Gaudelli said.

"The teams you see year after year on Monday Night Football are playoff teams - the Broncos, Eagles, Patriots.

The Bengals also were pleased with the outcome and the way the city shone Monday night.

"The biggest thing was it was a great opportunity to feel proud of the city, the stadium and Bengals football. It was a 31/2-hour commercial for Cincinnati," said Jeff Berding, Bengals director of sales and public affairs.

Berding said he and other Bengals employees received congratulatory e-mails and phone calls from around the country.

Becky Swicer, 48, formerly of Newport, trekked from West Palm Beach, Fla., to watch her team.

"The fans aren't fair-weather. They've held on all those years and there's finally a payoff," she said Tuesday as she unsuccessfully searched Koch Sporting Goods downtown for orange and black Zubaz pants. "I live in another city now and when I say I'm a Bengals fan, people laugh. Well, who's laughing now?"

For Karen Carrelli of Montgomery - a season-ticket holder with her husband, Nick, since 1970, the game was one of the best in the team's history.

"It made me remember what Bengals football used to be: Excitement and fun and winning and the team working like a team instead of individuals," Carrelli, 61, said. "They were cheerleading on the sides themselves. It was a great, great feeling to come out of that game with the horns blowing and you don't even know it's a quarter to one in the morning because you're so excited.

"It's about as good as we are going to get for a long time. It gives you that faith that, gee, maybe we can turn this around again."

Cliff Peale contributed. E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com and mcurnutte@enquirer.com