This is not entirely true. The issue for many Americans is that we prefer a good play actually produce a valuable result. The best pass in history is essentially worthless if it doesn't lead to a score. The vast majority of the good plays in "football" are expected to stand on their own.
Just watch a basketball game to understand this thinking. When a player makes an incredible pass or move to the basket, the fans are extremely disappointed, if not actually angry. In "football" the fans will cheer wildly for a play that ultimately has no impact on the score.
I consider the addiction to scoring part of the lack of fondness for subtlety. American fans like seeing points on the board, when an American fans walks into the room and asks who's winning they don't want to hear about which team is controlling the ball more often in the offensive zone and causing the other side to run around in their own end in a panic, they want to hear a score.
You can really see it in baseball fans. Some baseball fans pray for 1-0 pitchers duels, they love the intensity of any at bat being able to win the game. Most baseball fans think 1-0 games are boring. The former have what it takes to watch soccer and hockey (they probably also dig Sergio Leone movies), the later are your more typical American fan.