just looked at the clock and realized there's a game in an hour. And started thinking how awesome it is for us on the East Coast to get things started early. Which brings me to this thread - what, if anything, has the NFL learned from this clusterfuck of a season that can be applied to a post- COVID league?
I'm really really hoping its the removal of TNF. Adding in a MNF double header would be awesome too, but admittedly don't know what the difference in ratings are between TNF and 5pm MNF. I'm guessing its enough to not cancel TNF, but maybe not?
Anything else you'd like to see the NFL continue with once the shitshow is over?
I agree i like the 2 monday games and no thursday night game
I hear you, and don’t disagree on the concept. For me it’s the game itself is usually subpar and for a league that’s supposed to care about player health, a game on less than 4 days rest doesn’t jive.
But thanks for the reminder about tonight.
I hear you, and don’t disagree on the concept. For me it’s the game itself is usually subpar and for a league that’s supposed to care about player health, a game on less than 4 days rest doesn’t jive.
Player safety-wise I 100% agree that Thursday night games are a terrible idea. It would probably be difficult logistically but a good compromise could be to make Thursday night games consist of teams coming off a bye week. Would eliminate some Thursday night games early in the season and at the end of the season but seems doable.
I do agree though, that Monday night double headers are nice. Only issue is I could see them pushing them back >30 min if they kept them going forward. 530 start for Game 1 would have it ending as the West Coast gets home.
Teams are beat up and not ready. The quality of play - arguably already slipping on Sunday's - is worse on Thursday.
And road teams are at a huge dissadvantage IMO.
The NFL is oversaturating itself with TNF.
This is a HUGE issue. The game I hate the most? Tenn at Jacksonville. They play that every year......UGH!!!!
WHen you put games on special nights (not Sunday day time), you want hopefully great matchups.
By having every team making an appearance, you aren't going to get good games (competing with SNF, and MNF).
As I always say, look at the schedule every week. There are 'dog' games across the board.
Even I'm the Eastern Time zone a 5p kickoff is problematic. You'd basically be eliminating west coast viewers.
There's a reason primetime games kickoff at 820p. Even if your west coast audience joins a little late, you've got them for at least 3 quarters.
Now maybe the world changes more significantly and that creates a different set of circumstances, but as long as ratings and ad revenue are driving the bus, playing a game at 5p eastern is probably not going to happen.
I can't help but think they should have done something like this for this season, projecting the type of cancellations and postponements they have had.
As for TV TNF should be eliminated. MNF kickoff should be 8 even. Not 8:17 or 8:37 or whatever it is. 8 EST. Game over between 10:35-11:15 EST. A MNF doubleheader doesn't seem possible to me.
If you want to add Saturday Night after thanksgiving like they once had, fine. If I remember they did pretty good ratings and were good games. That seems reasonable.
Bigger practice squads
Less restrictions on who can be on practice squad
Ability to protect PS players
week 1 play was not so horrible vs typical week 1 play
I can see NFL reducing Pre Season to 3 or 2 games next season
There are only so many days a week when the NFL can program games. Not Friday or Saturday because of HS and college ball. There's one night a week (Tuesday or Wednesday, I forget which) when a lot of churches and clubs have meetings, and that is a big deal for a lot of the country. So that's three days a week that are pretty much off the table. There's Sunday, Monday, Thursday and maybe one more available for NFL telecasts. Sunday and Monday aren't going anywhere, and I'm sure the NFL would prefer to be on 4 nights a week -- they're already on 3. I can't see them just walking away from the money.
Yep. I love TNF even though the games themselves are not often compelling.
There are only so many days a week when the NFL can program games. Not Friday or Saturday because of HS and college ball. There's one night a week (Tuesday or Wednesday, I forget which) when a lot of churches and clubs have meetings, and that is a big deal for a lot of the country. So that's three days a week that are pretty much off the table. There's Sunday, Monday, Thursday and maybe one more available for NFL telecasts. Sunday and Monday aren't going anywhere, and I'm sure the NFL would prefer to be on 4 nights a week -- they're already on 3. I can't see them just walking away from the money.
The question is whether the 5 30 game on Monday can do better than Thursday night football. I have a weird suspicion it will. Just look at how many people on this thread would rather have this set up. I miss quite a bit of Thursday night football now because unless I'm interested in the matchup I could almost guarantee the quality isn't going to be up to snuff.
Also, there is no excuse to only have 2 late afternoon window Sunday games like we saw yesterday.
The question is whether the 5 30 game on Monday can do better than Thursday night football. I have a weird suspicion it will.
I promise you, it cannot, despite some anecdotal support in an unofficial survey of east coast fans on a message board.
Again, this assumes that things are back to "normal" across the country. To be honest, even NYC commuters would miss half the game if it started at 5p. If I left my office at 5 on the nose, by the time I got a train and got home and took my shoes off, it would be at least 630. By the time I get my son fed and off to bed, another hour is gone by, and the game is almost over.
For folks in other timezones the situation is even worse. The NFL isn't going to sell ad space for pennies on the dollar to air a game while people in Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Houston, Denver, KC, Seattle, LA and San Francisco are at work.
Now, if a significant portion of the country is working remotely it's obviously a different story - which is also why you have to take any ratings you see from today's game with a grain of salt.
The games have been better in this regard. Let them play
I doubt the NFL will make a decision based on this, but its a factor I think.