There are such a lot of extra fascinating groups than the New York Jets and Giants, Denver Broncos, and Chicago Bears, however from now via Thanksgiving, NFL followers shall be subjected to these franchises 13 instances on nationwide TV. It’s early, and there’s nonetheless time to course right, but after simply two weeks, these 4 groups are a mixed 2-6 with a minus-82 level differential.
Justin Fields is already (rightfully) blaming inept coaches for his robotic play, Aaron Rodgers is out for the season, Saquon Barkley has a bum ankle, and Denver continues to be discovering methods to lose regardless of new coach Sean Payton. The Giants-49ers recreation tonight might foreshadow many extra public shamings for this quartet.
New York already obtained dusted by an above common Dallas workforce on nationwide TV, and I’d say it’s higher to get it out of the best way now if the G-Males had been relegated to Sunday Ticket after tonight. They’re not, and viewers will assuredly go on tilt throughout future drubbings.
I discussed Thanksgiving as a result of, beneath the league’s new flex schedule the place it might probably now swap out Thursday and Monday video games, these nights can’t be switched till Week 12 or 13. Turkey Day is Week 12, and solely Sunday night time motion is up for realignment previous to then. Even with that, a most of two matchups between Weeks 5 and 10 may be flexed into Sunday night time. (After that, SNF is topic to the NFL’s discretion.)
So for all the league’s trumpeting a couple of extra fluid nationwide slate, it’s kind of bupkis, and we’re going to get lots of incredulousness from Al Michaels, and Kirk Herbstreit, hyperbole from Mike Tirico, and Cris Collinsworth, and existential doubt from Joe Buck, and Troy Aikman. As a lot as I really like these cubicles calling it like it’s, or making an attempt to spin a Zach Wilson move into one thing extra, that’s not entertaining sufficient to carry followers’ consideration for three-plus hours.
I’m going to want Cris and his son Jack armwrestling throughout two-minute warnings to remain tuned, and although everybody is aware of why Chicago, New York, and Denver obtained the instances slots they did, it doesn’t imply we are able to’t rage in opposition to the schedule makers over on the league workplace for persevering with to prioritize large markets over high quality and competent organizations.
Solely a type of 4 squads completed above .500 a yr in the past, and so they’re helmed by Daniel Jones. Broadcast companions had been at all times going to fawn over Rodgers going to New York, however there ought to’ve been no less than a slight hedge as a result of the Jets don’t know something however ache and unhappiness.
Talking of ache, what’s up with the late-season flex guidelines? Most rosters have guys taking part in harm lengthy earlier than November, however now they may get impromptu quick weeks as a result of prime-time video games are reputation contests? Followers ought to get blitzed with prized poodles for the primary month, after which after that, parade out the perennial contenders, and tried-and-true quarterbacks (beneath the age of 35).
On the danger of tying this argument in circles, there are three nationwide TV slots per week now, and the league has to fill them with someone. As anybody who’s ever watched their supervisor stress about who’s working Saturdays can attest, making any schedule is a large headache, and there aren’t three apparent video games per week to appease ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime.
That mentioned, that is the NFL’s personal doing because it selected to make Thursday Night time Soccer a factor whatever the shoddy product and truncated turnaround time. Barkley was by no means going to play tonight, however given three extra days, possibly he might give it a go?
Bitching in regards to the schedule (and the NFL) has develop into each bit the pastime because the video games themselves. It doesn’t should be this fashion, however asking why the league is the best way that it’s will solely make your mind bleed.
