Opening "MNF" Overnight Ratings Up On ESPN, Including Network-High For Late Window

ESPN saw a pair of gains in overnight ratings for its Week 1 “MNF” broadcasts, including a new record for its late window game. The net earned a 9.8 overnight rating for the Falcons’ win over the Eagles in the early game, up 6% from a 9.2 for Giants-Lions last year. The game peaked with a 13.9 rating between 10:00-10:15pm ET. In Philadelphia, the game drew a 14.6 rating on ESPN and a 17.0 on WPHL-Ind. The game averaged a 9.9 rating on ESPN in Atlanta and a 15.8 on WSB-ABC. Meanwhile, the late-window Vikings-49ers tilt delivered a 9.5 overnight for ESPN, up 22% from a 7.8 for Chargers-Cardinals last year. That number marks ESPN’s highest overnight for the late window since acquiring “MNF” rights in ’06, besting a 9.1 for Chargers-Chiefs in ’10. In S.F.-Oakland-San Jose, Vikings-49ers earned a 10.9 overnight on ESPN and a 15.0 on KPIX-CBS. In Minneapolis, the game delivered a 11.7 rating on ESPN and a 19.6 on WCCO-CBS (Josh Carpenter, Staff Writer).

LOWERING THE BOOM: ESPN’s Chris Berman and Trent Dilfer made their lone trip to the “MNF” broadcast booth for last night’s Vikings-49ers game, and Twitter, as expected, was full of comments that did not exactly lean in favor of the announce team. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jeff Schultz: “For those who've been watching this game and listening to Chris Berman and Trent Dilfer all night, my condolences.” Sportswriter Brendan Prunty: “Berman and Dilfer are like your dad's two annoying friends announcing a NFL game.” The N.Y. Post’s Bart Hubbuch: “Deepest apologies, Australia. We don't understand Berman and Dilfer, either.” SI’s Don Banks: “I'm starting to think this game is the perfect fit for Berman's talents.” KFAN-AM’s Paul Charchian: “Hours later, I'm still mad about the game. I can't be expected to settle down after what Chris Berman did out there.” KLAC-AM’s Jason Stewart: “Whether it's a blind sense of loyalty or something else, it's a travesty that ESPN puts Chris Berman on this game over other qualified pros.” MRN Radio’s Pete Pistone: “Which ESPN executive does Chris Berman have compromising photos of in his possession?” Comedian Andy Richter: “I think I hear chunks of corned beef spraying out of Chris Berman's mouth onto the mic.” Former NFLer Donovan McNabb: “Trent Dilfer if super amped and animated, had to press mute for awhile. Wow, Doing to much.” Deadspin’s Drew Magary: “Did Dilfer just come from a goddamn concert? Why is he so loud?” Yahoo Sports’ Shalise Manza Young: “Why is he screaming at us?” Score Atlanta's Craig Sager II: “I don't know if I have ever been as excited over anything in my life, than Trent Dilfer is right now on any given play.” Author Jeff Pearlman: “Trent Dilfer is ruining this game. Just ruining it.” WFNZ-AM’s Frank Garcia: “Dilfer right now may be more annoying than Berman and that's saying ALOT!!!” But FoxSports.com’s Jimmy Traina wrote, “I know I'm breaking Twitter law here, but I don't care what anyone says: I like Chris Berman. Always have & always will.”

LOCAL FLAVORS: In Chicago, Lewis Lazare reported WFLD-Fox drew a 27.7 local rating for Sunday's Packers-Bears matchup, which was "only good, not great, at least by Bears' ratings standards." The first Packers-Bears game last year drew a 31.7 local rating on WFLD. The somewhat "sluggish numbers on Sunday certainly suggest ratings could continue to tumble as the still new season goes on" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/14). In Charlotte, Erik Spanberg reported Panthers-Jaguars at 1:00pm on Sunday drew 310,000 viewers on WJZY-Fox, a "drop of 40%" from last year's Panthers opener against the Buccaneers. Last year's game, which started at 4:25pm, drew 515,000 viewers. The Jaguars "are a mediocre team with little star power, another possible factor in the precipitous decline." The Bucs last year were also a "woeful, nondescript team, but a division opponent" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/14). In Baltimore, David Zurawik wrote Sunday's Ravens-Broncos game "was a winning proposition" for WJZ-CBS. The game drew a 37.7 local rating and was the "fourth most-watched telecast in Baltimore this year, trailing only" the Super Bowl and the Ravens' two playoff games. The game's viewership of 640,000 also was "more than that of any non-sports telecast" in the area in '15 (BALTIMORESUN.com, 9/14).

HALL PASS: SI.com's Richard Deitsch reported the Pro Football HOF "now has its own radio show." SiriusXM NFL Radio on Saturday debuted Pro Football HOF Radio hosted by HOF Exec VP/Museums, Selection Process & Chief Communications Officer Joe Horrigan and longtime sports broadcaster Howard Balzer. The show "will have a featured co-host and weekly Gold Jacket guests." The show "will air every Saturday" from 2:00-4:00pm ET (SI.com, 9/14).