They would get bigger crowds if they scheduled the games in order to maximize fan expectations and thus profit.
They schedule stupid cross conference games at the end of the season where they don't make any sense.
Here is MY solution:
The FIRST 3 games of the season should be the DIVISION RIVALS ONLY. That gets fans pumped for the new season.
Then, after those three games, schedule the IN-Conference and cross conference games, mixed up as first one then the other.
ALL teams in a conference would get the same bye week at weeks 8 and 9, alternating AFC/NFC every year as to who goes first.
The the LAST 3 games of the season should be DIVISION RIVALS ONLY, played in the same order as the first three games. That way all the teams in a division would be in nearly the same condition as their rivals, barring injuries, etc.
Even without the kneeling controversy, the NFL just isn’t as good as it used to be.
The NFC Least is an embarrassment. Everyone except the Giants can still win the division.
My two stepsons used to be huge football fans. We all gathered at one of their homes over thanksgiving. He lives in, basically, a mansion. His entire daylight basement is a theater with 105” screen, a full wine cellar with tasting area, and a “sports bar” with pool table and multiple TV’s. Sitting at the bar were a few pf his employees and several family members watching - the pay-per view golf.
It was on both TV’s.
Can’t happen to a better group of thugs.
Of course, since they are tax free and get stadiums paid for by taxpayers, the owners are going to petition cities for tax bonuses to pay the overpaid thugs high contracts.
There’s no revenue coming in so you need to pay us for the promises we made
Social Justice warriors congratulate NFL for figuring out how to eliminate those long lines at ladies restroom.
Disrespect your audience and they will go away.
It was so boring, even the announcers were having a hard time sounding interested.
I think that the Chiefs had a few fans in Arrowhead, at least for a cold, rainy school night. While the game will be a sell out, the Raider game may have some vacant seats. Even Oakland can’t support the vaunted Raiders. They don’t have a place to play in 2019.
I’m praying for an All-LA Super Bowl.
Two teams that even LA doesn’t care about.
I haven’t watched an NFL game in 3 years now.
Disrespecting our troops was the initial reason, because as a US Army Chaplain I have buried many veterans under that flag. The logic of it is simple. Don’t disrespect the national emblem of the nation they died for.
Beyond that, I had other reasons. My largest were (1) Owner extortion of fans for taxes, stadiums, concessions, etc. Absolutely aggravates me. (2) Thuggish behavior that gets a pass. (3) On-field celebrations of any variety, but especially the overdone type.
Your solution makes some sense, which is why it will never work!
Now, about your visual of the Cincinnati stands, would YOU want to go to a game between two teams that have won 8 games between them going into week 15? In rainy weather, no less?
Contrast that with the Patriots-Steelers or the Chargers-Chiefs, or even the Packers-Bears this weekend, all played in equally lousy weather cities. I don’t think the NFL gives attendance figures anymore (too embarrassing), but I somehow don’t think there were too many empty seats for these games. In addition to decent teams on the field, each game had playoff implications, albeit surprising on the Chargers and Bears sides. About all that Cincinnati and Oakland were fighting for was a higher draft pick.
I guess what I’m saying is that no matter how you schedule it, you’ll still have a few clunkers where a lot of fans come dressed up as empty seats. Even if you only have intra-divisional games at the end of the season, you still get stinkers (Jets-Bills, Redskins-Giants, Raiders-Broncos would be good 2018 examples). Especially since, except for the Raiders, all of these teams play in cities where you can get terrible weather in December, which would depress the turnout even more. And even Oakland can get miserable rainy foggy days this time of year.
more and more it’s looking to us like a lot of the games are fixed ... we’re seeing powerhouse teams that are like 11-2 being beaten by losers that are like 10-3, but ONLY when at the 10-3 team’s home stadium ... in these cases bogus penalties are clearly aimed at the visiting teams, while the visiting teams look like they’re not even trying, presumable because they know that they are supposed to give one of up to help the failing ticket sells of the loser team ...
Since the NFL let the unions gut training camp, the first month of the season is horrible, unpredictable, sloppy football. Nobody is ready, upsets all over the place, nearly unwatchable dreck. I can't beleive that people are willing to gamble on games that are so random.
I don't know if making the division come down to who gets luckiest in September is a good way to go.
Fire every player who has ever been arrested.
F/&i NFL...
Who wants to say out in cold miserable weather to watch the woebegone Bengals play the moribund Raiders? It's basically an exhibition game.
Yes, there were a lot of 'dawg' games this weekend. When schedules are defined, some late-season match-ups look great. Then the season happens...
Scheduling games to be played ONLY on pay TV isn’t helping them, either.
Many lifelong loyal fans cannot watch because they are on Soc Sec & cannot pay for high priced TV.
Who can’t get excited about guys lavishly praising themselves for doing what they were paid for doing.
I haven’t watched any NFL game this year or last except for incidental contact which I try to avoid as well. I don’t know if they are kneeling or not and I’m not trying to find out. I actually am now only interested in making them regret doing it in the first place. I am but one but we are many.