Last night's game peaked at an 8.3 overnight from 11:00-11:15pm ET during the Giants' go-ahead driveGETTY IMAGES
ESPN earned a 7.4 overnight rating for the Giants' 27-23 win over the 49ers on "MNF" last night, up 19% from a 6.2 for Dolphins-Panthers in Week 10 last season. Two years ago, a close Bengals-Giants matchup in Week 10 drew a 7.9 overnight. Last night's game peaked at an 8.3 overnight from 11:00-11:15pm ET during the Giants' go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. The game drew an 18.6 local rating in the S.F.-San Jose-Oakland market (6.7 on ESPN, 11.9 on KGO-ABC). The N.Y. market drew an 11.6 local rating (6.8 on ESPN, 4.8 on WPIX-CW) (Austin Karp, THE DAILY).
KEEPING IT AWKWARD: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe noted "MNF" analyst Jason Witten last night once again "dominated much of the discussion about the game" on social media. Witten was "mocked" over comments he made about 49ers QB Nick Mullens. During the first quarter, ESPN's Joe Tessitore revealed that Mullens actually attended Giants QB Eli Manning's passing academy in '16 during his senior year at Southern Miss. Witten awkwardly responded, "Some dreams never come true, but if you keep dreaming, you never know." Witten then had a "couple more minor missteps" during last night's broadcast (PHILLY.com, 11/13).
LACES OUT: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal notes Bears K Cody Parkey missed four field goals on Sunday, and Bears radio announcer Jeff Joniak's reactions "seemed a bit detached, protective, maybe a tad too deferential to the team." When Parkey missed his fourth field goal, Joniak hammered the word, “AGAIN,” and it sounded as though his co-analyst Tom Thayer "groaned." Joniak later noted that Parkey had missed just three kicks in '18 coming into the Lions game and "never had more than five misses in an entire season" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/13).
THAT'S GONNA LEAVE A MARK: USA TODAY's Andy Nesbitt notes ESPN's Ryan Clark had to leave “NFL Live” in the middle of yesterday’s show due to an injury that he "suffered by walking into a camera during a commercial break." His ESPN co-workers THEN had "some fun with it." Adam Schefter tweeted, "Injury update: @Realrclark25 is now at a local CT hospital, receiving 2-3 stitches on his forehead, after accidentally walking into a camera during a commercial break of NFL Live, per sources. Clark is probable for NFL Live next week" (USATODAY.com, 11/12).
