ESPN drew a 12.1 overnight rating for the Redskins' 20-17 OT win over the Cowboys last night from 8:15-11:45pm ET, marking the best "MNF" overnight since the '10 season. Redskins-Cowboys drew the same figure as Saints-Falcons from Dec. 27, 2010, but was just short of the 12.3 overnight earned by Giants-Cowboys on Oct. 25, 2010. Redskins-Cowboys also is up 59% from a 7.6 overnight for Seahawks-Rams in Week 8 last year. That "MNF" in '13 aired opposite Red Sox-Cardinals World Series Game 5, whereas the game last night had no MLB competition. Last night's game peaked at a 14.3 overnight during OT from 11:30-11:45pm. The game drew a 36.6 local rating in Dallas-Ft. Worth (14.0 on ESPN, 22.6 on WFAA-NBC). It also drew a 30.4 local rating in DC (17.8 on ESPN, 12.6 on WDCA-Ind.). Richmond (24.7), San Antonio (24.5) and Norfolk (20.2) rounded out the top five markets (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
THE REAL MCCOY: In Dallas, Barry Horn wrote "MNF" analyst Jon Gruden was "merciless" on Redskins QB Colt McCoy "early and often." Horn: "I can’t recall the last time an analyst was so tough on a player." On McCoy’s 45-yard pass to WR DeSean Jackson on the final play of the third quarter before his go-ahead TD run, Gruden "managed to praise" his brother, Redskins coach Jay Gruden (DALLASNEWS.com, 10/27). Meanwhile, in DC, Dan Steinberg notes Redskins Senior VP/Communications Tony Wyllie "intervened" following the game when ESPN Deportes reporter John Sutcliffe "tried to grab McCoy and interview him on the field." Wyllie said, "No no no, we gotta go guys, we gotta go." Wyllie tried to "physically move McCoy toward his destination," but there was "resistance from Sutcliffe." Wyllie eventually shouted, "No means no!" But Steinberg notes the interview "eventually happened" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/28).
PREPARED FOR TAKEOFF: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes there is "no better way to grieve a Jets loss than to switch right to 'Jets Post Game Live' on SNY." Sandomir: "I haven’t watched it often enough over the years, but it seems this season, I have been drawn inexorably to it after a lousy loss." The cast’s "frustration is contagious, even empowering, as if it were a televised 12-step program." Host Brian Custer following Sunday's 43-23 loss to the Bills "was incensed, even disgusted," by Jets QB Geno Smith’s and Michael Vick’s six turnovers. Analyst Ray Lucas "fixed his ire at Smith and the play-calling by the offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg." Chad Cascadden, another analyst, called the Jets a “slow-moving train wreck.” Custer: "My challenge yesterday was how were we going to tell this story and explain what happened. We want to entertain folks, but we have to be truthful about it. Geno was bad, but I told our analysts, ‘Tell me why. You have to back it up with facts’” (N.Y. TIMES, 10/28).
RATINGS ROUNDUP: Bears-Patriots earned a 34.0 local rating in Boston on WFXT-Fox, the most-watched program of the week in the market (Patriots)....Two of the "lowest television ratings for Titans games in eight years have come this season." Sunday's Texans-Titans game earned a 17.7 local rating in Nashville on WTVF-CBS, while the Sept. 28 Titans-Colts game earned a 19.7, which "had been the second-lowest rating in the past eight seasons" (TENNESSEAN.com, 10/27).
