There is no bigger ticket in town than the NFL – none.
Football Sundays are more than a ritual for some, they're borderline a religion. They're a practice that we all preach and unless you're experiencing a game in person, you're taking it all in via the magic of television.
The NFL completely dominates tv ratings this time of year. Sunday Night Football is, by definition, the most successful “program” on tv. It's as factual as the sky being blue; however, the 2016 NFL season-opening ratings were pretty much all lower than they were a year ago.
These are big games that the NFL is down, that word being used loosely, here. We're talking about the season-opener, opening SNF game, and opening MNF games. Is it really that big of a surprise, though? Among those eight teams (Broncos, Panthers, Cardinals, Patriots, Redskins, Steelers, 49ers, Rams) there were two quarterbacks not named Peyton Manning and Tom Brady that we'd never really seen plus something called Kirk Cousins and whatever the Rams/49ers trotted out.
There was one time slot as far as Week 1 goes that actually saw growth in terms of viewership – the late-afternoon Sunday game. Who played then? Our beloved ‘Boys, of course.
But RJ! What about the other games! Maybe people were watching other teams and not us?
Who would do such a thing? Probably Terrance Williams since he makes weird decisions. Well just for perspective check out the broadcast map of the late-afternoon game, courtesy of 506 Sports.
The country watched Cowboys/Giants, and the country loved it. Keep in mind that this game featured a rookie quarterback and running back for the Dallas Cowboys, and a defense that we all many think is Terrance Williams-ish. This is incredible.
Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, among the rest of the Cowboys, completely carried the NFL as again… this was the only time slot where the NFL saw a growth in ratings during Week 1.
America's Team. America's Team. AMERICA'S TEAM.
How silly is it when people say the Cowboys are no longer America's Team? Tell us! Comment below, Email me at RJ@RJOchoaShow.com, or Tweet to me at @RJOchoa!
