Thursday's Dolphins-Texans matchup on "TNF" led to a primetime win for FoxGETTY IMAGES
Fox and NFL Network combined for a 9.2 overnight rating on Thursday for the Texans' 42-23 win over the Dolphins on "TNF." That is up 10% from a 8.4 rating for last year's comparable Dolphins-Ravens tilt in Week 8 on CBS/NFL Net. The Ravens won that game 40-0, and it also marked a season-low rating to that point for "TNF." Two years ago, the Week 8 Jaguars-Titans "TNF" game aired only on NFL Net. In '15, CBS/NFL Net drew a 12.6 overnight in Week 8 for Patriots-Dolphins. Thursday night's Dolphins-Texans game won the night for Fox among all networks (Josh Carpenter, THE DAILY).
KICK UP THE JAMS: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe noted NBC during Sunday's Saints-Vikings game will debut the use of "radar to trace the flight and trajectory of field goal kicks, similar to the way tracer technology is used during golf broadcasts." The new technology is called "SNF Kicks Tracer." NBC initially will limit the technology to instant replays, but it "enables fans to know the trajectory and speed of the ball during field goals." The "most innovative function is a 'good from' statistic that shows how far away any field goal 45 yards or longer would have been successful from." NBC Sports Exec Producer Fred Gaudelli said that as the season goes on, NBC Sports is also "going to use the technology on other kicking plays, such as kickoffs and punts, where a shadow will trace the path of the ball as it travels down the field." That means fans for the first time will "know exactly where a punt goes out of bounds" (PHILLY.com, 10/25).
GET UP, IT'S GAMEDAY: In Buffalo, Mark Gaughan noted ESPN will "set up its 'Monday Night Countdown' pregame show in Lot 4 of New Era Field" before Monday's Patriots-Bills game. Buffalo is one of "five cities this season that ESPN has picked to be an on-site location for the pregame." The net did "three tailgate shows" last season, and the idea is to "capture the same kind of atmosphere that exists" for "College GameDay." The "Countdown" show typically airs from "inside the stadium" (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/25).
