The season-low 7.0 overnight rating for Texans-Titans matches Rams-Raiders in the late window of Week 1GETTY IMAGES
ESPN drew a 7.0 overnight rating for the Texans’ 34-17 win over the Titans last night, matching the season-low overnight for “MNF” in ’18, but still up 17% from Texans-Ravens in Week 12 last year. The 7.0 overnight is the same figure that Rams-Raiders drew in the late window in Week 1 on ESPN. Last year, Texans-Ravens drew a 6.0 overnight en route to being the least-watched “MNF” game of the ’17 season. Two years ago in Week 12, Packers-Eagles drew an 8.9 overnight. Last night’s game peaked at an 8.2 overnight from 9:30-9:45pm ET (game went from 8:15-11:15pm). Houston led all markets with a 29.4 local rating (10.7 on ESPN, 18.7 on KTRK-ABC). In Nashville, the game drew a 21.5 local rating (6.4 on ESPN and 15.1 on WKRN-ABC).
RAGIN' CAJUNS: New Orleans was again the third-best local market rating for “MNF,” falling behind only the two markets playing. It was the sixth time in 12 weeks that the Big Easy achieved that feat. On another two occasions -- both involving the N.Y. market -- the Big Easy out-rated the Big Apple to be the No. 2 market for ESPN. New Orleans was the clear No. 1 for Redskins-Saints on Oct. 8. NOLA has finished at No. 4 three times, and was No. 5 for Titans-Cowboys on Nov. 5 behind strong performances from some Texas markets. ESPN gets the New Orleans market again in Week 15 for Saints-Panthers (Austin Karp, THE DAILY).
HONORING THE MAN: ESPN’s Joe Tessitore in a pregame-tribute said late Texans Owner Bob McNair was a “dynamic and determined businessman." Tessitore: "We had the chance to speak to many players, many coaches about the well-respected NFL owner and there were so many stories shared about his love of this franchise, the employees of the team, the players, coaches and most of all, the city of Houston.” ESPN's Lisa Salters added, "There was a sadness around the Texans when we met with them on Saturday." Salters noted that Texans DE J.J. Watt during that meeting "told us it didn’t matter what charity he attended with Mr. McNair, at the end of the night, whatever the dollar amount that was raised, Bob McNair would match it” (“Monday Night Kickoff,” ESPN, 11/26).
