New Orleans led all markets with a 53.5 local rating for the Saints' 43-19 winGETTY IMAGES
ESPN last night drew a 7.3 overnight rating for the Saints' 43-19 win over the Redskins, which also saw QB Drew Brees break the all-time NFL mark for career passing yards. That rating is up 4% from a 7.0 for Vikings-Bears in Week 5 last year, which had heavy promotion around the halftime trailer premiere for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." Two years ago in Week 5, ESPN drew a 6.5 overnight for Buccaneers-Panthers. Last night's game peaked at a 9.2 rating from 9:15-9:45pm ET, near the time when Brees broke the record. New Orleans led all markets with a 53.5 local rating (16.5 on ESPN, 37.0 on WDSU-NBC). DC drew a 20.6 local rating for the game (8.9 on ESPN, 11.7 on WJLA-ABC) (Austin Karp, THE DAILY).
PROGRESS REPORT: ESPN's Jason Witten said that the challenge of being a color commentator is "taking all that you know and all that you’ve lived -- and that’s why they hired me -- and bring that perspective and be able to communicate it in a way that’s enjoyable." Witten added he has "just a few seconds" to make insightful comments after a play ends. He said of his time calling games so far, "It’s been okay, but this is a great opportunity to teach, to be clever and just share what your mind’s really thinking. Last week, I think we hit our groove from that standpoint" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/8). ESPN's Joe Tessitore said of his short time working "MNF" with Witten, "We’re four weeks into the job. We’re working extremely hard in our preparation. I would ask anybody that does anything what it was like four weeks into it for them. The chemistry gets better as time goes on" (New Orleans ADVOCATE, 10/9). Tessitore said of taking the "MNF" role, "You can’t help yourself but think about the legacy. It is, truly in our industry, being handed the keys to the car you’ve been looking at your entire life. It’s that shiny car, that classic Corvette that either your dad or your granddad had and you say, 'Someday, I can’t wait to drive that thing.' And you never think you are, then one day you’ve got the keys in your hand" (RICHMOND.com, 10/8).
