Don’t Believe The Hype!

Is ESPN looking for a good game or great drama? Either way, they are hoping for ratings.

On October 5th, 2009 Monday Night Football (MNF) televised the Vikings-Packer game.  Broadcast from the Metrodome in Minneapolis, the show received its best ratings EVER in the 25+ years it has been on the air. In addition, it was the largest event in ESPN history, with an estimated 21.8 million viewers evening. Not bad, when you consider that the Super Bowl has between 80-100 million. 

It’s no surprise, then, that ESPN wants to build the drama for this Monday Night’s broadcast: Vikings/Bears at Soldier Field.

I think we’ll all agree that Brett Favre’s triumphant return to MNF (where he has had an amazing record) to face his former team, The Green Bay Packers, was the reason October’s viewers tuned-in in droves. There’s no better sports story:  star quarterback pushed into early retirement by his former team, only to return with their biggest rivals to prove he still had it–and had it in spades. Broadway couldn’t produce better drama.

And ESPN hasn’t had it since.

A look back at the past 4 weeks of MNF shows games that have been less than stellar:

• Saints over Pats 38/17 in week 12,
• Packers over Ravens 27/14 in week 13,
• 49er’s over Cards 24/9 in week 14,
• Giants over the ‘Skins 45/12, last Monday.

The last good, close game was back in mid-November when Tennessee’s former Oilers toppled the new Houston Texans, 20/17.

ESPN wants viewers like they had in October.  Their sponsors want viewers like they had in October.  And how are they going to get those viewers?  Create quarterback controversy, and push it hard for the entire week leading up to the game.

Quarterback controversy, you ask? In case you’ve been caught up in Christmas cheer, last week, at the Vikings/Panthers game, there was a 90 second “moment” between Brett Favre and Brad Childress, apparently due to Childress debating pulling the quarterback from the game. Childress grabbed Favre’s elbow, Favre pulled his arm away and it was caught by NBC cameras. Commentator Chris Collinsworth took verbal note of it.

At the press conference the following Tuesday, Childress had a chance to respond. “It was more of a stream of consciousness,” Childress said, “where he comes off the field, I’m watching what I’m watching, and I said, ‘Hey, you know what? I’m thinking about taking you out of the game here.’ I mean, [Favre was] getting [his] rear end kicked, through not a lot of fault of his own.”

The local papers made mention of the situation and moved on, the NFL network has since ignored it, other news sources have followed suit. Why? Because it’s a non-issue. Granted, our offensive line looked atrocious. And as a result of that, Bryant McKinnie was pulled from the game. Had the offensive line played better, Favre wouldn’t have been “getting his butt kicked”.  Leading up to tomorrow’s game, the team and the media are focusing on the real issue: How will the offensive line respond? Can they step up and elevate the running game again? Can they protect the quarterback and stop the blitz?

ESPN, however, has been running the Favre/Childress story long after its fifteen minutes of fame. Quarterback-turned-analyst Trent Dilfer, with his continuing and tedious commentary, has served to keep the story alive.  As we say in Minnesota, it’s a non-factor. ESPN: Move on.

For those of you tuning in, here is what you will see: Minnesota has a record of 6-4 over the Bears on MNF. While Minnesota has struggled on grass and in cold weather, Chicago is no Offensive juggernaut. Quarterback Jay Cutler has 19 touchdowns and 25 interceptions–for every touchdown Cutler throws, he averages over 1 interception. Running Back Matt Forte, who had an amazing rookie year, seems to be in a sophomore slump, and won’t get much relief going up against one of the best run defenses in the NFL.

The forecast for Monday night in Chicago is 28, with flurries. Brett Favre is accustomed to playing outside and in the cold. Coach Hueber has been on the offensive line all week, and has indicated a commitment to a running game.

Look for the Vikings to skin Chicago. And with a Denver win over Philadelphia, Minnesota will clinch the number 2 seed and a first week bye going into the Playoffs.

Vikings 24, Chicago 10

– Cory Merrifield