What’s with the dueling Monday Night games?

[peterpan]

The League has done an early and a late MNF game in the past, but I can’t remember them ever having competing games at the same time in prime time.  What’s the reasoning here? Testing a new concept??

[zow2]

Not sure.  They were talking about it on one of the afternoon sports shows and ripping on it...  they said either stagger the start times or have one game..  

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

The league looked at NYG and Packers, and grimaced? 🤔

[Gregg]

Watching Dolphins - Titans since its an AFC game with AFCE team playing. I have a feeling I will be switching over to the Giants - Packers game as I think the Dolphins are going to blow them out.

[peterpan]

I have always thought that the league limiting tv stations to 3 games between the 1 and 4 pm starts was super weird.  Why not just allow 4 games on? That’s seems like the easiest way to increase revenues.  
 

But this isn’t a bad idea either. I have non interest in the nfc game, but would watch the afc matchup. I do agree a staggering start time would be nice.  The 830 games go too late for an old fart like me

[strive_for_five_guy]

It’s an “experiment”

[Simon]

1 minute ago, strive_for_five_guy said:

It’s an “experiment”

 

I'd love the idea if both of the games were good; or maybe even if just one of them was good.

Although I do think they should offset the kickoffs by about 20min so you could fully enjoy the end of both.

[Mango]

Instead of making MNF must see/great football. They are just log jamming a couple games in there at once to free up the 4pm slot on Sundays. 

I am only halfway joking. 

[nucci]

38 minutes ago, zow2 said:

Not sure.  They were talking about it on one of the afternoon sports shows and ripping on it...  they said either stagger the start times or have one game..  

yet they don't stagger the start times on 1pm Sunday games

[Tuco]

It's week 14. Almost all of the tens of millions of fantasy football leagues around the world have their final regular season matchups this week. Fantasy players don't care about whether the game on TV is a good matchup. They care about their players and their opponents' players. In my 12-person league there are 10 teams who have players playing tonight. Five of those teams are still battling for position (regular season places/payouts plus playoff positions) and tonight's games will be the final deciding factor. 

 

ABC/ESPN no doubt realized this is one week where a lot of people will be watching whether the games are dogs or not. No doubt they paid for an extra game this week because they know millions of watchers will be using the back button as they switch between games, depending on who has the ball. And it's no big deal for a sports bar to have two games on instead of just one. 

 

That's my guess anyway. Pick the week 14 game in April. If it's a dog there will be the regular number of viewers plus a handful of extras rooting for their fantasy players. Make it two games in week 14 and have a better chance of at least one of them not being a dog, plus double the handful of extras watching as they pull for and against multiple players.

 

 

[Logic]

Yeah it's weird.

I have no idea why networks cannibalize their own audience, just like with the Manningcast thing.

I don't get it.

A double-header? Sure. Or even staggering it by 90 minutes, so that if the first game stinks, you can switch at halftime. But starting them at the exact some time? Bizarre.

Edited December 11, 2023 by Logic

[chongli]

42 minutes ago, peterpan said:

The League has done an early and a late MNF game in the past, but I can’t remember them ever having competing games at the same time in prime time.  What’s the reasoning here? Testing a new concept??

 

 

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/two-nfl-games-monday-night-football-doubleheader/164c3af4e262e4ae9a0a40f7

 

"Why are there two NFL games tonight?

 

"There is not a specific reason for the two games being put on Monday. ESPN said only in its release that by having two games at the same time, "ESPN and the NFL transform a Sunday afternoon environment into a primetime window."

 

"The latest schedule innovation during ESPN's most comprehensive NFL season in the company's history, features multiple games with playoff implications," the release said."

[Simon]

4 minutes ago, nucci said:

yet they don't stagger the start times on 1pm Sunday games

 

No, but they do for some 4pms when they are only a couple games going instead of 8-9.

[nucci]

Just now, Simon said:

 

No, but they do for some 4pms when they are only a couple games going instead of 8-9.

I know. I think they should for early games...105p...115p, 125p. That way there's always a game going on

[Simon]

Just now, nucci said:

I know. I think they should for early games...105p...115p, 125p. That way there's always a game going on

 

Yeah, I've thought that too. Sort of like a March Madness model.

Start at 12:30 and kick them off every 10 minutes; then between 330 and 430 networks could just run down the line showing the end of a bunch of different games, at least some of which would be good enough to keep folks in the LR and out of the kitchen.

[CaptnCoke11]

Neither game is appealing 

[mannc]

55 minutes ago, peterpan said:

The League has done an early and a late MNF game in the past, but I can’t remember them ever having competing games at the same time in prime time.  What’s the reasoning here? Testing a new concept??

The same week that there is NO FOOTBALL on Saturday.  (Except Army Navy). Why, why why?

[The Wiz]

They kind of did this last year when the bills played the Titans and the Vikings played the Eagles.

 

7:15pm and 8:30pm, respectively.

 

They are testing it out is my guess to see what is the best way to get the most viewership in both games.  This one just happens to be at the same time.

[mannc]

3 minutes ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

Neither game is appealing 

You’re going to change your mind when the Titans give Miami all they can handle.

[DCofNC]

1 hour ago, Simon said:

 

I'd love the idea if both of the games were good; or maybe even if just one of them was good.

Although I do think they should offset the kickoffs by about 20min so you could fully enjoy the end of both.

Yeah, I’d say they need to be offset by at least an hour.  This week has not been the scheduler’s finest job. 

8 minutes ago, mannc said:

You’re going to change your mind when the Titans give Miami all they can handle.

Wouldn’t be shocked if the Titans win, honestly.  They have the right type of team to give Miami trouble.