Many pundits believe high-scoring games have helped put a positive spin on the NFL's narrative this seasongetty images
NFL teams this season are "scoring at a record pace," and a number of games have come down to the wire, which the league views as "good for business," according to Rob Maadi of the AP. So far, 69% of all games (64 of 93) have "been within one score in the fourth quarter." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said there has not been a "better time to be an NFL fan" than right now. Goodell: "The quality of the games and the enjoyment that comes with that, I hear it from the fans all the time -- that is No. 1 for them. From our standpoint, we look at this as a great moment for us, the tremendous growth and the tremendous popularity of our game" (AP, 10/18). PFT's Mike Florio said the NFL now "sees the correlation between offense, points, ratings, money." They "found a way to get people back to the game." They "think higher scoring games, exciting games will draw more people in." The "evidence" is there, as the numbers are up "from a TV standpoint." NBCSN's Chris Simms said while "scoring points is good," in college football the SEC is viewed as being a "lot better than the Big 12 because nobody wants to watch the Big 12 because it's a flag football conference." The NFL "better be careful of not becoming a flag football league." Florio: "Defense wins championships, but offense sells" ("PFT," NBCSN, 10/17).
STAR POWER: ESPN's Mike Greenberg said the heightened emphasis on protecting the QB is the "reason why" NFL TV ratings are up this season. Greenberg: "When those guys are playing and they've relaxed the rules so they can put huge, pinball kind of numbers up, the game is awfully fun to watch." ESPN's Domonique Foxworth: "We, as fans, are becoming aware that football and sports are an entertainment property more than it is a sport. You know what you tune in to see? You tune in to see stars." ESPN's Damien Woody said everybody last season "wanted to talk about the national anthem, but really the decline in ratings last year" was due to players like Texans QB Deshaun Watson and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers getting hurt. When those players "aren't out there," the NFL is "going to lose" the casual fan ("Get Up," ESPN, 10/17).
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL: In DC, Mark Maske writes there is "simply no such thing as too much offense." Maske: "Why would the NFL tweak anything? Times are good." The controversy surrounding the league's national anthem policy has "subsided, with few players protesting during the anthem." The games have been "captivating to fans." The NFL "always has believed that viewers like scoring," and that is "playing out this season" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/18).
