The NFL will "surely capitalize on the Cowboys’ momentum in terms of television ratings as they begin a possible four consecutive games in prime time" with tomorrow night's game against the Vikings, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. The Cowboys will then follow up with a Sunday night game at the Giants on Dec. 11 before hosting the Buccaneers "in a game scheduled for noon on Dec. 18." However, many observers "believe that game will be flexed" to "SNF." The Cowboys face the Lions "the day after Christmas on 'Monday Night Football.'" Their season finale against the Eagles, who are "nearly out of the playoff chase, will likely stay" at 1:00pm ET. Four of the five "most-watched games this season have already involved the Cowboys, led by the last Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day" game against the Redskins that "averaged 35.1 million viewers." That was the highest figure for any regular-season game in Fox history (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/30). ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said tomorrow's Cowboys-Vikings matchup is “one of the precious few" Thursday night games "worth paying attention to” ("PTI," ESPN, 11/29).
STRAIGHT TALK: In Sacramento, Steve Pajak talked to Fox' Mike Pereira, who is in his seventh season as the net's NFL "rules analyst." Pereira was asked if one possible reason for the declining TV ratings this season is that the NFL is "legislating the violence out of the game with an increasing number of rules." He replied, "I agree with that statement, but I don’t think there’s a choice because of the lawsuit that was filed against the league (for neglecting player safety). I personally think the game of football is overexposed. I know it’s not popular for me to say, especially since I’m part of Fox, which has the rights, but I think there’s too much football, and I think there’s too much NFL football" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 11/30).
