The Game of the Week? | Great Debates

I think the NFL considers the Giants a big draw. They are a New York team, which many networks feel equals easy ratings. I mean, NBA analysts always speculate how the league would like to see the Knicks in the finals because of the rating boom in would potentially cause. The interesting thing is the Giants have two primetime games in the first four weeks, but the Jets have yet to appear (which I am sure is fine with you, P).

I am really not all that shocked that the early primetime TV schedule features a lot of NFC East teams - after all, those four teams are in major markets. Also, these four teams have very devoted fans across the country that the NFL knows they can draw to a night game. Also, the NFC East is one of the few divisions in football where each team loathes the other three. On top of this hate, the division features two of the league's best rivalries in Redskins-Cowboys and Eagles-Giants. Other divisions just don't feature this kind of hate. For example - and P, we have discussed this many times - many Bills fans consider the Dolphins the team's greatest foe, but I have never gotten the impression Dolphins fans or the rest of the country sees this as must-see TV. The NFC East simply features a lot of storylines.

Storylines and rivals can only do so much for me as a NFL fan, though. I want to see a sampling of the entire league. My apartment does not allow satellite dishes, so no NFL TV package. But I don't think I even want to be able to see EVERY game, I just want to checkout different teams a couple of times a year. I also don't get to see a lot of the other AFC teams because many play at 1 pm on Sunday, so I look for the primetime games to bring me that action.

I want to think other fans have this want to broaden their football knowledge because of how much coverage the league gets, but let me know if I am the only one. My point is, the NFL needs a third national primetime game each week. I know the NFL Network will carry about eight games this season, but that network is still making some big demands of cable companies (the NFL would like the Network to be part of every cable subscription, not just part of a premium sports package). I don't need the best game, but a game with interesting players and featuring a clash of less well-known rivals. Give some very basic football, AKA none of ESPN's "special guests," and I would tune in any day of the week. I want more NFL, is that so much to ask?

Speaking of sports broadcasting, what the hell is with the Big Ten Network? Penn State plays Illinois this Saturday (yes, I know this is not a marquee match) and it is only on the conference's new network. In being from Buffalo, my regional coverage was always Penn State. This means I used to see all but usually two games against early-season cupcakes. The invention of this network really irks me because I doubt I can get it in an area few would consider college football country, let alone Big Ten country. I understand the conference saw a demand it could use to increase the exposure of other college sports and its member schools, but many of these college football teams, especially those in the Big Ten, have a national following.

GOOD NIGHT NOW