But isn't the issue that CBS and Fox won't let the NFL move all the marquee games to NBC/ESPN/NFLN?Whatever convinced them to put bad teams on these prime-time games is going to be defeated by the poor ratings. My guess is that's only a part of the problem but it's easy to fix.
So Pats, Seahawks, Steelers, Packers fans should get ready for a lot of evening games next year...
Yeah, the fans, in that it forces crappy games into the national spotlight, which thus drives down ratings.But isn't the issue that CBS and Fox won't let the NFL move all the marquee games to NBC/ESPN/NFLN?
There are only so many good games/ratings draws in a given weekend. With 6 time slots to fill (incl the Sunday morning London game), plus the number of teams on a bye each week, someone has to lose.
They have to put bad teams on. Those good teams already have tons of prime time games, everyone but the Packers I think has 5. The TV contracts cap it at 6 per team, scheduling 5 leaves one open for a flex for each of the good teams. The problem is there's 102 prime time slots, give or take, and like six good football teams in the league, then various versions of mediocrity and dregs. They can take 40-45 slots for good teams, but they still have to figure out the rest. Plus they have the London abortions going out nationally, although those are pretty easy to ignore given time slot.Whatever convinced them to put bad teams on these prime-time games is going to be defeated by the poor ratings. My guess is that's only a part of the problem but it's easy to fix.
So Pats, Seahawks, Steelers, Packers fans should get ready for a lot of evening games next year...
Agreed.Yeah, the fans, in that it forces crappy games into the national spotlight, which thus drives down ratings.
Baseball used to very much be a national sport in that the only televised games were nationalized games. While baseball as a sport is still strong, it has very much become a local market driven sport.
The NFL seems to be heading in the exact same direction, given that the Sunday day game time slots basically have the same ratings, but the night games are all dropping. People are caring less about watching other teams' games.
But if they remove the requirement that all teams play on TNF, then you get into issues of teams having to play multiple times on TNF, which screws things up from both a fairness and player safety perspective. Then again, NFL.I understand there are limits to the primetime options. However, it is not the case that the worst few teams in football need to be televised in primetime, either....that's a choice the NFL has made. I suspect they will adjust this, and the limitation of max number for the contenders, to try and improve that one variable within the larger ratings question.
Part of the problem really is that they don't know with a lot of accuracy what teams will be bad each year (well, other than the Browns). There was reason to think Jags would be at least ok, for example.
TNF isn't going away but I wouldn't be sad if it did.But if they remove the requirement that all teams play on TNF, then you get into issues of teams having to play multiple times on TNF, which screws things up from both a fairness and player safety perspective. Then again, NFL.
I don't think any Brits have ever been to CincinnatiSounds like a Redskins home game in London.
Because it was obviously 4 down territory. The way they were announcing, I am pretty sure Albert/Lynch thought the Bengals were trailingWTF is announcer talking about Dalton needing to throw it away?
Yeah that was insane. "He needs to save valuable time by throwing it away." uhhhhhWTF is announcer talking about Dalton needing to throw it away?
They were saying it was 4 down territory, which I'm not sure it would be if he threw it away and got to 4th and long at their own 43. John Lynch anyway, career defensive guy.WTF is announcer talking about Dalton needing to throw it away?
He walked off the field. In retrospect, the other players standing around, rather than kneeling, was a positive sign.Any word on the injury to the redskins player? Switched to Pats, but it did not sound good.
A little longer than a chipshot at 34 yards. Nitpick, but they did run a play that lost a couple of yards to center the ball better. I told my wife about the icing the kicker TO and predicted that he would then miss. Also, the penchant for using sports phrases like the whole 9 yards, slam dunk, hit a home run, etc., in business, I would love to hear a usage of icing the kicker.Redskins miss chip shot FG
"Whole 9 yards" is a military expression. Something to do with artillery.A little longer than a chipshot at 34 yards. Nitpick, but they did run a play that lost a couple of yards to center the ball better. I told my wife about the icing the kicker TO and predicted that he would then miss. Also, the penchant for using sports phrases like the whole 9 yards, slam dunk, hit a home run, etc., in business, I would love to hear a usage of icing the kicker.
No TV of Pats game here
I thought the same thing but figured I was biasedI won't complain about lack of a bailout call, but Seattle should've got 15 yards + an untuned down, for roughing the passer on that botched FG.