There is plenty to consider this Friday morning -- a breakthrough on Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU is rumored; the Saudi-UAE-U.S.-led offensive against Hodeidah is approaching a tipping point; peace talks between the U.S. and North Korea have been postponed -- but I want to unburden myself in regards to the National Football League.
We're currently in week ten of a 17 week regular season, which is followed by another month of playoffs, capped by the U.S. religious national holiday, the Super Bowl.
At an earlier time I used to post regularly on the National Football League. So far this season, I've done only one. It had to do with the season opener and the continuing panic over the ratings drop.
There is some evidence from the beginning of the season that the loss of viewers has ceased. The reason being given is an increase in high-scoring, competitive games.
I think that's a fair assessment. The problem is, I'd say, is that the games over the last month-plus, while still high scoring, have not been competitive. Take last night's game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers routed the Panthers in a blowout. From early in the second quarter the outcome was never really in doubt.
It's a problem for the league if two of the marquee teams can't provide engaging entertainment.
Another example: Last Sunday night's ballyhooed match-up between Brady and Rodgers, Patriots vs. Packers. It was basically a nothing burger. Brady is still Brady, maybe a notch or two below what he was in his prime, but Rodgers is clearly not the player he once was. His game is based on mobility and peak athleticism. He's suffered too many injuries; and now that he's in his mid-30s, his powers of rejuvenation are greatly diminished. It's a problem for the league because Aaron Rodgers is its commercial exemplar.
There are other problems too: the horrendous quality of the Oakland Raiders and the disappearance of Marshawn Lynch; the poor start of the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles; the horrendous quality of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Bright spots are the rise of the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs and their prolific offenses.
We'll have to take a look at the ratings after the Thanksgiving holiday. We very well could see a return to last year's poor numbers.
Don't forget the rise of Nick Mullens, a bright light in my post-surgery narcotic haze.
ReplyDeleteNot to dim the bright lights, Bob, but Mullens' stellar debut was against the worst team in the league, the Oakland Raiders. That Thursday night game was basically unwatchable, even if 49ers red and gold courses through your veins, because the Raiders are so horrible.
ReplyDeleteLet's see how Mullens does against the almost-as-bad-as-the-Raiders New York Giants. If he throws for another three touchdowns I'll turn on the bright lights myself.
I wish you a speedy recovery!