Many words have been written and spoken about the doldrums the debut season of Thursday Night Football on CBS is currently experiencing. Even players like Arian Foster ripped the product this week in anticipation of playing tonight, saying that players or fans didn’t like it and it was all about the league trying to gain more revenue. (He may be onto something with that last point at least…)
Since Week 2, when Thursday Night Football debuted in network television primetime, the NFL has seen a historic stretch of lopsided games.
Baltimore 26, Pittsburgh 6
Atlanta 56, Tampa Bay 14
NY Giants 45, Washington 14
Green Bay 42, Minnesota 10
Four games, each decided by 20 points or more, three of which decided by 30 points or more, and one of which decided by 42 points. An average margin of victory of 31.25 points per game. No wonder Phil Simms and Jim Nantz are going crazy in the broadcast booth.
Tonight sees the 3-2 Colts visit the 3-2 Texans with the AFC South lead on the line. So far Thursday Night Football’s ratings have been solid, but not outstanding, at least in comparision to Monday and Sunday Night Football. Anyone else working in television would sacrifice a limb for the 16.1 million average viewership.
Will a close game between two good teams finally show us the true potential of the new primetime package? Hopefully we find out tonight and we’re not flipping through NBC’s primetime comedy lineup by the start of the 2nd Quarter once again.
