Steelers-Bucs peaked with a 9.6 rating from 9:30-9:45pm ET as the Steelers led 30-10 at halftimeGETTY IMAGES
ESPN drew an 8.4 overnight rating for the Steelers' 30-27 win over the Buccaneers on "MNF." Last night's number is down from a 9.3 rating last year for Cowboys-Cardinals, but that game featured Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones kneeling with his players prior to the national anthem in response to President Trump's comments about the NFL. The number last year was ESPN's best Week 3 game since '13. Two years ago in Week 3, ESPN drew an all-time low 5.7 for Falcons-Saints, though that game went up against the first Trump-Clinton presidential debate. In '15, Chiefs-Packers drew an 8.9 overnight in Week 3's "MNF" matchup. Last night's game peaked with a 9.6 rating from 9:30-9:45pm ET as the Steelers raced out to a 30-10 halftime lead. Steelers-Bucs drew a combined 41.0 rating in Pittsburgh (9.1 on ESPN, 31.9 on WTAE-ABC), and a 21.0 in Tampa-St. Pete (10.8 on ESPN, 10.2 on WMOR-ABC). New Orleans (15.2), Norfolk (13.6) and Baltimore (13.5) rounded out the top five local markets (Josh Carpenter, Assistant Editor).
POLITICAL GAME? ESPN's Jason Witten last night said roughing-the-passer rules have gone "too far" and added it seems like the NFL "went a little bit to the left wing" in trying to protect QBs. YAHOO SPORTS' Jason Owens wrote, "Umm. OK, Jason. Because Democrats don't like football injuries? Or Republicans don't care about them? Wherever Witten was going with that isn't quite clear" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/24). ESPN Senior Dir of Communications Bill Hofheimer said that Witten's comment had "nothing to do with politics" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 9/25).
STAYING FLEXIBLE: Browns-Raiders this weekend is being cross-flexed to Fox, but PFT’s Mike Florio said he would rather have that contest as the nationally televised CBS afternoon game. He said, "The nationally televised CBS game is either going to be Saints at Giants or 49ers at Chargers. They always love to have the New York market in that equation, but between Saints-Giants, 49ers-Chargers or Browns-Raiders, I want Browns-Raiders." The Browns named Baker Mayfield their starting QB for Sunday, and Florio said that game is the "one that’s going to be the most compelling." He added, "If I’m (CBS Sports Chair) Sean McManus, I’m saying, ‘Hey, is there a way we can get Browns-Raiders at 4:25pm, eastern?’ If I’m the NFL, I’m listening. It’s impractical at this point five days away, but we’re all going to be watching something on CBS while we’re waiting for some information about Browns-Raiders” (“PFT,” NBCSN, 9/25).
