From Snowfall to Streaming: The NFL’s Disconnect with Fan Expectations

I've reached my limit with the NFL disrespecting its customers. My patience as a fan is running thin, and I believe I'm not alone in this sentiment. Here are some of the ways the league is driving its fans away.

Roughing the Passer

In the Super Wild Card game on Saturday night (1/13/24), the Chiefs defeated the Dolphins 27-6 in Kansas City. An outrageous incident occurred during the game, consistently overlooked by commentators. In the third quarter, as the Chiefs aimed to extend their 16-7 lead in the red zone, Patrick Mahomes took off running. The play ended with a massive hit that shattered Mahomes' helmet in the freezing temperatures. While this became the story, what transpired before the collision is what every NFL fan should be outraged about. Mahomes made no attempt to slide; instead, he positioned himself as a full runner. Dolphins defenders were attempting to bring him down without tackling him to avoid a roughing the passer penalty. It was clear they were touching him with both hands, trying to push him to the ground while holding back to prevent a significant collision.

The NFL needs to address this issue. Defenders shouldn't have to hold back, allowing quarterbacks to rush for crucial yards untouched. This goes against the spirit of professional football and is influencing game outcomes. While the Dolphins might not have won the game regardless, this pivotal moment contributed to putting the game out of reach. Additionally, there were other questionable roughing the passer penalties in favor of the Chiefs during the game. The NFL is heading towards a flag football style, and this is detrimental to the sport. The hit that shattered Mahomes' helmet was a result of the last defender having no choice but to put his head down and make a play. This is spiraling out of control, beyond reason, and is ruining the overall product. The defenders are afraid to make any contact with these guys and the quarterbacks know it and are taking advantage in the open-field.

Leaning Away from the Weather

Every year, I eagerly anticipate the NFL playoffs—a time that brings me great joy as a fan. One of the highlights of January playoff football is witnessing teams battle in the elements—cold, rain, snow, and sleet underline the spirit of the game we all love. Last week, I was excited about the Bills vs. Steelers game in Western New York, expecting heavy snowfall. However, on Saturday, the NFL announced the game's move to Monday afternoon at 4:30 to avoid the snowstorm. This decision is a disgrace, and the NFL should be ashamed of continually moving away from elements that make the product enjoyable for fans. Regardless of extreme weather conditions, inclement weather makes these games memorable and adds a strategic layer that enhances the overall experience.

The NFL and it's broadcast partners, spent four hours complaining about the cold in Kansas City, but the fans were out in force, enjoying themselves in -2 degree temperatures that felt like -27 degrees with the wind chill. The players and the league are well-paid, and it's the fans who contribute to that revenue. Stop avoiding the weather; fans don't want that. Every time a new stadium is built, it's protected from the elements. We don't want that. This is not the NBA, and we don't need every team to score 50 points every time they touch the field.

The Streaming Roulette Wheel

Accessing every NFL regular-season game in its entirety requires the NFL Sunday Ticket, which is incredibly expensive. Opting for the next best thing, NFL Redzone, is also costly. However, the NFL is now moving its postseason product to various streaming platforms, making certain games exclusive to those platforms. If you don't have Peacock, you couldn't watch the Chiefs vs. Dolphins game on Saturday. Lack of Prime, Paramount, or ESPN+ means missing certain primetime games during the regular season.

This trend is expected to worsen as more services like Apple vie for exclusive games. This money-grabbing strategy needs to stop. Fans already pay exorbitant amounts to follow this product. I'm fed up with Roger Goodell and the team owners taking advantage of us at every turn. This behavior is pushing fans away and affecting revenue. There's a saturation point for this conduct, and the NFL is dangerously close to reaching it.

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I wrote this article out of passion and frustration, aiming to defend the people who matter most to the NFL's success—the fans. The league consistently ignores fan opinions and preferences to serve its bottom line. I'm contemplating finding a new sport or hobby that values its consumers because the NFL is routinely disrespecting its customers, and someone needs to speak up.