With more international games coming, our NFL viewing experience will change

Once upon a time, in a quainter America, we knew what to expect from the NFL. Games on Sunday afternoon, one on Sunday evening, and one on Monday night. That was it. Easy to follow. Easy to plan your viewing experience around.

However, progress waits for no one. As our addiction to football grew, the league innovated more ways to feed our insatiable habit. We’re getting more football—whether we want it or not. More games on more platforms at more times than ever before. There’s so much content that we often forget when the games are, what networks they’re on, and even if your team is playing in this country.

And as long as the ratings, revenue, and franchise values continue to rise, who’s to stop the NFL oligarchy?

Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated last week that he expects the league will eventually have 16 international games each year. And, of course, we already know that an 18-game regular-season schedule will likely happen. Goodell added that the implementation of both will likely be connected.

We’ve adapted to the ever-shifting sports landscape. Still, the possibility of 16 international games might fundamentally change our viewing experience. Currently, many of us treat the international games as optional since the ones in Europe start in the morning. Unless you’re a fan of the participating teams, it’s not appointment TV. Maybe you’ll tune in. Maybe you won’t. No biggie.

That thinking might change if/when the international games become a regular part of the schedule instead of a novelty. Last weekend’s New York Jets vs. Minnesota Vikings game starts a run of three straight weeks of games in London. The NFL International Series concludes on Nov. 10 with the New York Giants vs. the Carolina Panthers in Munich.

The NFL is trying to “normalize” these international games to the point where instead of your traditional NFL-watching experience starting at 1 p.m. Eastern time, it will become 9 a.m. Welcome to regular quadruple-headers. That would be a major change for many people who use Sunday mornings to go shopping, run errands, and visit their house of worship. Now, the NFL is asking for more of your time. Sure, you can catch the games on the go on your mobile device but that’s not possible or practical in some cases.

If you’re single with no children, no problem. However, if you’ve got a family, possible problem.

Adapting could be even more challenging for those on the West Coast. Who wants to watch a 6:30 a.m. kickoff?

What’s the NFL’s end goal here? Expansion of the international series means more money. More games that they can sell to different networks and streamers. The league isn’t trying to be coy. While some fans might be annoyed by paying for more apps, our irritation hasn’t affected their bottom line.

Plus, this is likely just the start. Think of the international games as beta testing the NFL of the future, a league with teams outside of the continental United States. While we barely have enough good players for a 17-game regular season for 32 teams, that won’t stop the NFL from adding more franchises. Goodell has previously talked about putting an entire division in Europe. But even simply adding two more teams across the pond would give the NFL more games to sell and put on the schedule. And the union will likely agree because expansion means more jobs for players. 

When will it all be too much? Do we want this much football in our lives? Nobody complained about the 16-game schedule that existed for decades. However, so much has changed so quickly over the past few years with one more regular-season game and one more playoff spot.

Will we continue to watch as passionately? Stay tuned.