Thursday Night Football Has One Too Many Problems

When Thursday Night Football was conceived, fans were elated by the idea of watching the NFL on another weekday night. However, as the game has now been in place for quite some time, the games lack the quality NFL type quality. Through the 2014 season the final scores of the game have been:

Through five weeks, the losing teams have lost
by a combined 145 points on Thursday Night Football

Week 1: Seahawks 36 Packers 16

Week 2: Ravens 26 Steelers 6

Week 3: Falcons 56 Buccaneers 14

Week 4: Giants 45 Redskins 14

Week 5: Packers 42 Vikings 10

For you boys and girls keeping track at home, that's a 145 point difference. And in the 2014 season, the NFL decided to make these match-ups a "must watch." These teams are playing meaningful divisional games, yet they continue to massacres that make American Horror Story seem like a lighthearted romantic comedy. 

Thursday Night Football has never struck a cord with me anyways. It was created during the 2006 season and it was placed on the NFL Network. At the time, the NFL Network was quite a rarity in most US households- it was a part of a premiere cable package. Heck, at the time, ESPN was still considered a luxury, considering the "Bart Starr" era fans had yet to buy into the idea that TVs work without bunny ears. 

Then, for a reason I will never understand, network executives thought the voice of Thursday Night Football should be former Today Show host Bryant Gumbel. Sure, his brother Greg is a top notch play-by-play man. But, Bryant never resonated with the average football fan and it felt more like he was going to all of a sudden break out into a Today Show segment on healthy fall foods. 

He was replaced by Bob Papa (who?- exactly) and then eventually veteran Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock were paired together and at least some part of TNF seemed like it worked. But the matchups were never "must watch" TV. 

Then earlier this year, the NFL paired up with CBS to bring TNF to an even larger audience. CBS placed big time broadcasters Jim Nantz and Phil Simms on the games and the matchups had bigger implications than ever. Divisional rivals taking on each other in prime time. But, the curse of TNF continued on. Why? I have one opinion, one that has been echoed by players and media alike. NFL player aren't fully prepared on three days rest. It's that simple. 

These players can't be expected to be at 100 percent after playing 60 minutes only three days beforehand. No human body could recover from the physical impact in such a short time. It's too hard. 

TNF is another one of the NFL's ideas to try to make more money. Don't get me wrong, that has been a screaming success as the CBS deal went for $275 million. People are making money, but sometimes, not everything should be about the almighty dollar.