Even with both quarterbacks out of commission, the Bears/Packers rivalry gave a boost to “Monday Night Football.”
The Week 9 Bears/Packers “Monday Night Football” game drew a 10.4 overnight rating on ESPN, up 10% from Eagles/Saints last year (9.5), but down 11% from Bears/Eagles in 2011 (11.7). The 10.4 is the second-highest of the season on ESPN, trailing only Eagles/Washington in Week 1 (11.6).
Bears/Packers was only the fourth “MNF” telecast to earn a double-digit overnight this season, along with Eagles/Washington in Week 1, Steelers/Bengals in Week 2 (10.3) and Raiders/Broncos in Week 3 (10.3).
Shifting to Sunday’s action, CBS led all networks with coverage of the NFL national window. Coverage featuring Steelers/Patriots drew a 15.4 overnight, up 3% from Steelers/Giants last year (15.9), but down 17% from Giants/Patriots on FOX in 2011 (18.6). The 15.4 is the third-lowest of the season for the NFL national window.
The CBS early game drew a 10.0 overnight, down 14% from last year (11.6), but up 3% from coverage on FOX featuring Buccaneers/Saints in 2011 (9.7).
Over on FOX, the Week 9 singleheader window — featuring Vikings/Cowboys in 38% of markets — drew a 12.8 overnight, up 13% from coverage featuring Cardinals/Packers last year (11.3), and up 15% from coverage on CBS in 2011 (11.1). The 12.8 is the second-highest of the season for the singleheader window, trailing only Week 3 coverage on FOX (13.3).
Rounding out Sunday’s action, the Colts/Texans “Sunday Night Football” game drew an 11.4 overnight — down 21% from Cowboys/Falcons last year (14.5), and down 20% from Ravens/Steelers in 2011 (14.2).
As usual, overnights were not available for the Thursday night game on NFL Network.
(Week 9 overnights from ESPN, Sports Business Daily)
