The Bears' big win over the Redskins drew a combined 31.2 rating on ESPN and WGN in ChicagoGETTY IMAGES
ESPN last night drew a 7.3 overnight rating for the Bears' lopsided 31-15 victory over the Redskins on "MNF." That number is down 13% from an 8.4 rating for Steelers-Buccaneers in Week 3 last year. Two years ago, Cowboys-Cardinals drew a 9.3, 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. Last night’s game peaked with an 8.4 rating from 9:00-9:30pm ET as the Bears scored three touchdowns in the second quarter on their way to a 28-3 lead at halftime. It was a three-possession game heading into the fourth quarter. Chicago was the top market last night, delivering a combined rating of 31.2 (13.2 on ESPN and 18.0 on WGN). Next was DC, which drew a combined 16.0 rating (6.2 on ESPN and 9.8 on WGLA-ABC). New Orleans (14.0), Richmond-Petersburg (11.4) and Buffalo (10.7) rounded out the top five local markets (David Rumsey, THE DAILY).
LOCAL SUPPORT: The Saints' "upset win on the road" over the Seahawks in the late window on Sunday saw a "monster local television rating" in New Orleans, drawing a 52.8 on WWL-CBS (NOLA.com, 9/23). Meanwhile, Jets-Patriots in the early window on Sunday earned a 33.1 rating in Boston on WBZ-CBS. It was the highest-rated program on TV in Boston for the week, and it marked a 10% increase over the Patriots' Week 3 game last year, an "SNF" contest against the Lions (Patriots).
