Looks like lots of people chose to watch the presidential debate over Saints-Falcons

In July, after the dates of the three 2016 presidential debates were announced, Republican candidate Donald Trump took umbrage with the scheduling. Having two of the three debates on the same night as prime-time NFL games was an attempt by Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and her party to “rig” the events, Trump said.

But if ratings from Monday night’s Atlanta Falcons-New Orleans Saints matchup are any indication, there were a lot of people who were tuned into the first debate of the year and not ESPN.

Via Sports Media Watch, the Falcons’ win drew a 5.7 overnight rating, an incredibly low number.

How low? Possibly the lowest in “MNF” history, according to the site. Though complete overnight ratings records were unavailable, the lowest final rating in “MNF” history is a 5.1. No other “MNF” game has rated lower than a 5.7.

While the game between the two NFC South teams, one winless (the Saints) and the other seemingly in a constant uphill battle for relevancy (the Falcons) wasn’t the most appealing, history has shown that if an NFL game is on, no matter how non-sexy the combatants, people will watch. That was not the case Monday.

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The Week 3 “MNF” game in 2015, between the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers, drew an 8.9, while the Week 3 matchup in 2014, the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, drew a 9.2.

During the last presidential election, in 2012, a Week 7 Bears vs. Detroit Lions Monday night game was aired against both a debate and Game 7 of the National League Championship Series and still drew a 7.3 rating.

Broadcast nationally on nine networks, Monday’s first debate drew a combined 46.2 rating. For comparison, Super Bowl 50 drew a 46.6.

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