Even with one of them in playoff contention, a battle of 5-8 teams was never going to be a good television draw.
The Week 15 Saints/Bears Monday Night Football game drew a 7.6 overnight rating on ESPN, down 22% from Ravens/Lions last year (9.7), down 4% from Jets/Titans in 2012 (7.9), and the second-lowest MNF overnight of the season.
The only game to earn a lower overnight this year also involved the Saints — their Week 12 match-up with the Ravens (7.1).
The Saints’ win marked the fifth straight MNF telecast, and the sixth of the past seven, to have a double-digit decline in overnights. So far this season, 12 of 15 MNF windows have had declines in overnights — though four of those ended up with increases in the final tally.
(Mon. numbers from Sports Business Daily)
