re: NFL TV Ratings Down Significantly

What I don't understand is why the NFL doesn't have a good subscription service like MLB. I tried logging into Sunday Ticket and some games aren't available due to blackout or not being part of the Sunday Ticket feed, like last night's game.

What in the frick, NFL?

Last year I was able to watch on the Fox Sports Go app but this past weekend it wasn't working very well. So thanks a lot, Fox Sports Go app.

Cord cutters.

It's not cord cutters... College football ratings are up pretty significantly. Big match ups have helped but maybe folks are migrating there for their football fix.

Also Twitter's Thursday night game ratings were only an average of about 230,000 people.

college and pro football are not as good as they use to be in my opinion.

I don't give a frick about the bowl season in college football and the Monday Night games are terrible on ESPN now save for when the Saints play.

so the Saints aren't as good, I'll still watch them but this game tonight fricking sucks!!!!!!!

and the ratings were down for the college football playoff last year. What difference does it make?? Football isn't as good as it used to be and that won't ever change.

We get it.

1. no one gives a shite about players political beliefs and protests. take that shite somewhere else. people watch sports to escape the pressures of everyday life not to be reminded of them


2. no cool celebrations. no hitting. no fun.


3. The Redskins and Cowboys, the two biggest / most popular teams in the NFL suck dick. Say what you want but the Cowboys really are america's team


4. The NBA is much better about this then the NFL is there is too much fricking NFL shite on 365 days a year. I mean obviously both have their own networks for the die hard fans but the avg fan doesn't want to watch NFL live in in april on ESPN. I know the NFL network slogan is the season never ends, yes lol actually it does. In early February. For a reason. At some point the NFL season stopped ending and just like it kept going on. I don't think the NFL is less popular as much as it's just NFL fatigue.


I'll watch the sunday night game because it's going to always be a good game. Honestly that's pretty much all i watch at this point. Watch college football all saturday, kick it,, sleep in late ,watch the highlights for the games for the day sunday afternoon, watch sunday night football, frick monday night football. that's pretty much my MO for the last 2-3 years

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me there are several things that have me watching just casually, at best.

First is production value. For whatever reason, in general NFL games are dull. There's just something about how its broadcast. I can't really explain it. It feels...hollow, I guess? Even the theme music they all use is boring. No one seems particularly excited in the booth. Announcers and color guys seem almost monotone. For most of the games, it seems like the crowd is muted. The crowds in college games seem far, far more lively. As strange as it seems, that makes a difference in my interest level when its two teams with which I don't have a particular affiliation or interest. There's just a sterile feeling about it all that I doubt I'm able to convey here.

The majority of NFL games come down to the 4th quarter. It's similar to NASCAR. A driver can dominate for 475 miles, but inevitably in the last 25 miles the field be bunched together and any of the top 10 cars can win. NFL is like that, too. One team can dominate the game, up by 2 or 3 scores, but that other team is going to rally back somehow in the 4th to make it interesting. Yeah, it's exciting in the end, but while one team is dominating, it's boring af to watch. I guess if I know that I can just watch the end, why bother sitting there watching the first 2 1/2-3 hours? That's why the Red Zone is so great. I can skip all the boring stuff and just get right to touchdowns, then focus on the real action in the 4th quarter.

But the biggest issue for me is all the teams are so damn similar. With a few exceptions, you can have two teams switch jerseys and not know the difference. Same offenses. Same defenses. All about the short passing game. Running game is neutered. And there are far too many penalties called in games (not necessarily the refs fault if the players commit them, but still kills the action for me).

On any given Saturday, I can watch a multiple pro-style offense, a wishbone offense, a flex offense, i-formation offense, spread air raid, spread power run, and whatever circus show Auburn calls an offense. On defense, 3-4, 4-2-5, 3-3-5, and 4-3 styles all over the place. It's fun to watch and brings a lot of variety. On Sunday, I can watch a pro-style offense...maybe a variation between spread and close formations as a base offense...and either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. Watching the Jets & Bills is just no different than watching the Colts & Steelers to me. Give me a reason to watch instead of Red Zone or catching the highlights.

Lastly, what's on the line in any given regular season game in September and October? Who cares if the Titans lose? Who cares if New England wins? It'll have an impact in November and December, sure, and the ratings will be up as they always are that time of year. Sept/Oct games will dictate the drama for Nov/Dec, but for now no one gives af. Then, when we get into Nov/Dec, I'll watch the important match-ups and skip the MNF game between the 3-9 Chargers and 2-10 Buccaneers.

But, Florida State losing in September is a big deal. Ole Miss vs Bama in September is a big deal. Not just for those two teams, but the conference and on the national scene. Every game matters exponentially more in college than NFL. Lose a game in college and unless you run the table from that point on, you're hopes of a conference/national title are kaput. In pro ball, you can lose 6 or 7 games and get to the Super Bowl.

People don't want to watch Tyrod Taylor, Sam Bradford or the likes of Denver's QB struggle to complete passes. The nfl has no passion, it's boring to watch the predictable offenses and punts on 4 and 1s. Goodell being a joke doesn't help. Colins choice is a non factor. It's a terrible product overall

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Tyrod Taylor, Sam Bradford or the likes of struggle to complete passe

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While the bills mite suck that game had a fumble run back for long touchdown;2 touchdowns over 75 yards, and and 78 points combined to go along with a jacked up buffalo crowd...bad game to say lack of passion and boring.

I was excited about the NFL season. Turns out it was really just habit.

I sat down to watch and after about 15 minutes I got bored. Of course 10 of those 15 minutes were commercials.