The NFL is finally going to win. People can push again on the product, and complain about Thursday Night Football and abroad soccer all they need, however in due time modifications change into normalized, and even essentially the most inept schedule makers hit on a matchup. Enter the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.
Two premier QBs, two sizzling groups, and the AFC North is at all times a certain guess for a great, bodily recreation. About that final half: It’s no secret Baltimore, Cincy, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland maul each other each time they face off. Fans realize it, groups realize it, your niece Shelly is aware of it and she or he doesn’t watch soccer. The solely entity that doesn’t realize it, or doesn’t care, is the NFL.
Of course, the perpetually dinged-up Joe Burrow was dinged heading into a short week and tousled his wrist additional. And in fact, Mark Andrews’ season ended on a “hip-drop” deal with that the league thinks it might regulate out of the sport. Hell, Lamar Jackson took a visit to the medical tent only for good measure.
Sure, the Bengals season in all probability wasn’t going anyplace (and final evening principally assured it gained’t) however think about if Jackson’s harm was severe as nicely? Baltimore’s new coordinator has the brand new offense rolling, they usually had been lastly getting form of wholesome. There’s no cause to take pointless scheduling gambits to appease a TV companion.
Football followers are drawn to NFL video games like Swifties to an Eras Tour cease. It doesn’t matter what groups pull the short stick, viewers will tune in as soon as the muscle reminiscence is ingrained. Any press is nice press, and for those who don’t imagine that’s the NFL’s method then why is Roger Goodell nonetheless employed?
It’s nearly as if the house owners take pleasure in how a lot the media and followers detest their designated scapegoat.
“Thank god they’re focused on Roger, and not us, right Mortimer?”
One of the unwritten guidelines of scheduling is Thursday evening matchups need to be so dismal that the viewers solely wants to concentrate for a half. If Amazon says something concerning the scores, they’ve the tech for hologram Al Michaels, and whereas they’re at it, may give AI Al a shot of enthusiasm.
All season, the league has been touting its use of supercomputers to make the schedule as if anyone cares. Here’s an concept: How about asking Hal to rig it so groups coming off bye weeks play Thursdays? Then they’d have further time on the entrance and backends of the off week. No? Too logical? Alright, I’ll go sit within the nook.
Up till final evening, the TNF slate was its common forgettable self, and the scores had been up over final yr regardless of developmental showings from Tyson Bagent and Will Levis the previous two Thursdays. Who cares if the narrative of midweek soccer is the poor high quality of play? Prime Video already despatched a Hummer full of money to all 32 franchises, and the league didn’t inform them to speculate a small fortune into one other ineffective studio present.
It would take a hell of quite a bit to usurp Sunday Night Football’s broadcast as essentially the most unbearable, so Tony Gonzalez and Kirk Herbstreit are superfluous. Pick one, and attempt to cancel the other so you will get out of a contract. That’s what the Raiders did with Jon Gruden, and look how nicely that labored out.
The NFL is extra unkillable than Haliburton. Missteps don’t matter so make Carolina, Atlanta, Tennessee, Las Vegas, and the remainder of the organizations with disposable quarterbacks the designated TNF and NFL Europe groups. Let the bona fide stars stick with their restoration routine as a result of what occurred Thursday evening was as predictable because it was avoidable.
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