The Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys are currently playing (preseason) Sunday Night Football at AT&T Stadium, and NBC introduced a new feature for their broadcasts.
It’s called the “Green Zone,” and it’s used on third downs to show viewers how far a team has to go to get a first down.
Wait, isn’t that what the yellow line is already for? Yes, but this shows the space — highlighted in green, so, greener grass — an offense needs to cover in order to get a first down. Or… to reach the yellow line.
See the vaunted Green Zone for yourself:
You didn’t even know that you needed a “Green Zone” to watch NFL games, did you! pic.twitter.com/1JBcNkmP7X
— Ƒunhouse (@BackAftaThis) August 27, 2018
Welcome to the green zone.
On third downs, see just how far players will have to go at any point during the play to get a first down. pic.twitter.com/cCLdkdLjls
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 27, 2018
Ah, it sure is green. And yep, it shows that space needed to get a first down! Hooray for technology. Reminiscent of ESPN illuminating the three-point line for NBA broadcasts.
As you’d imagine, Twitter doesn’t seem to find the Green Zone all that necessary.
Immediately hate the green zone
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) August 27, 2018
I appreciate the effort, but please immediately remove the “Green Zone” from all future broadcasts
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) August 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/badkaratemovie/status/1033870039055773697
NBC just debuted the “green zone.” I don’t know, I thought the yellow line pretty much showed you all you had to know..??
— Dave “Softy” Mahler (@Softykjr) August 27, 2018
The green zone is for all the idiots who couldn’t understand the yellow line – What Al Michaels wanted to say
— Chris Lomas (@Chris_Lomas_) August 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/AAtbin/status/1033871672259108865
Hey @SNFonNBC , just show me the yellow line, the green zone is stupid. #GreenZone #AZvsDAL
— Ken Parker (@kparker723) August 27, 2018
Never in my life do I ever want to have to see The Green Zone on my television screen ever again.
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 27, 2018
@nbc green zone is a terrible idea. The first down line is enough! #itsnotbroke
— Zack Shelby (@zack_shelby) August 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/DylansRawTake/status/1033869557801394176
What is this green zone nonsense? There’s a reason the yellow line for the first down already exists #SNF @SNFonNBC
— Joe (day 1 dontayvion wicks fan) (@joepkipp) August 27, 2018
Cowboys are one of the best green zone defenses I've seen in a long time…
— Cash Sirois (@CashSports) August 27, 2018
*Someone* likes it, at least.
I like the Green Zone. Good idea. I’m sure Twitter will react w thoughtful nuance for its debut. #snf
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) August 27, 2018
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.