Maybe I am biased this year but this needs its own thread.

Let's Go Birds!!!

Good luck Pats and their fans, hope it's a good game.

Everyone's plans for the day?

Taking my daughters to the Nerd Bowl this afternoon at a local toy and collectible store. They are playing Star Wars (original trilogy) all afternoon and there will be games and other things going on.

Then off to pick up the wings and back home to watch the game. When the Eagles are playing I don't like being at a party. I want to concentrate on the game. Granted, if they win it would be fun to be with a group but if that happens I am taking off to go to the parade.

Woke Up. Put the sausage and meatballs in the pot. Took off all my clothes. Painted everything but my ass green. Started drinking.

LOL Suicane. Well since I have no real rooting interest in the game other than to see the Pats lose one for a change, I am doing nothing for the game, and will watch for the commercials :)

Random predictions:

I think the Pats will try to minimize the Eagles D-line with lots of short passes. So I'd pick the over on Dion Lewis and James White and the under on Cooks and Amendola reception props.

I think that the Pats will try to take away the run, and that the Eagles will not be afraid to throw. So I'd take the under on Ajayi rushes and yards and the over on Foles attempts and yards.

Patriots suck

I had to round at the hospital but I am now home and picked up wings on the way. I will finish up notes in the next hour, play with my daughter for a few hours. Then, I will go get my mom. We are having over just immediate family as I don’t want a huge party so I can concentrate on the game. Can’t wait to watch with my wife, my mom, my daughter, and my son plus the in laws.

We are going over my parents to watch the game. If the Eagles win I want to experience it with my Dad and now my son at the same time. He's almost 3 but these things don't come around often for Eagles fans

Patriots suck

That's intelligent.

I would love to see the Patriots win another but then that's it, no more. Time for the Rams or Eagles (and maybe Saints) to start their own dynasties next season.

I say we all crash EaglesFan's houses-both of them.

Just put on the throwback Jeremy Maclin Eagles jersey!

E-A-G-L-E-S

That's intelligent.

I would love to see the Patriots win another but then that's it, no more. Time for the Rams or Eagles (and maybe Saints) to start their own dynasties next season.

It doesn't have to be award winning to get my point across. I'm sure if I was a fan, I'd feel just as excited, and defensive of my team too. It's exciting to see it all work out for your team. I see it with NDSU and 6 National Championships in 7 years. So while I fully admit I'd feel the same as Pats fans over my team, it still feels like everything goes their way. They've won too much, and the eternal attitude of the fans that comes with that much success is nauseating. So I can respect what they've accomplished and still hate on the Pats and hope that the season ends with a lot of crying and gnashing of teeth.

Rooting for the Patriots this year.

I'm torn between whether I am actually rooting for them or I am being a Trojan horse and am using my habit of always backing the losing team to secretly take the Pats down for once.

Can Chief Rum root for a Boston based team? Or can he fool Fate? You decide!

Seriously, just want it to be a good game.

I've avoided parties involving Patriots games in the last few years, but I developed a good strategy last year when I had no choice but to be in a loud crowded condo in California for the Super Bowl - camp out close to the TV, be quiet, and then eat, drink, and be social about non-football stuff during commercials and halftime. There are people that can be fun hostile to Patriots fans, and people who can be dick hostile, and that line moves depending on what's happening in the game, how much people have drank, and whether people know me and know that I'm not going to even cheer out loud or anything.

It doesn't have to be award winning to get my point across. I'm sure if I was a fan, I'd feel just as excited, and defensive of my team too. It's exciting to see it all work out for your team. I see it with NDSU and 6 National Championships in 7 years. So while I fully admit I'd feel the same as Pats fans over my team, it still feels like everything goes their way. They've won too much, and the eternal attitude of the fans that comes with that much success is nauseating. So I can respect what they've accomplished and still hate on the Pats and hope that the season ends with a lot of crying and gnashing of teeth.

This is the issue I have with all Boston franchises, outside of the Celtics. Their fanbase is so hypersensitive about any perceived slight or anything that might impune the sanctity of their championship.

Philly fans are bad, but Boston fans tick me off.

Philly fans are bad, but Boston fans tick me off.

When you go in deciding that someone in a group is going to be a certain way, of course they're not going to react well to you. If you treat Boston fans like regular people, you have a better chance of getting along with them. If you act like a dick, they might not like you, and then you have a little self-fulfilling prophecy.

I don't know why this is so hard for people. When I go to one of these parties, or at a bar, or a game, and I find myself talking to a fan with a Cowboys jersey, or a Colts jersey, or a Yankees jersey, whatever, I talk to them like normal people about what's going on with their team, what they think's going to happen, etc. It's crazy how many grow-up adults have actual negative feelings about people based on what team they root for or where they're from. It makes this stuff a lot less fun than it should be.

I had to round at the hospital but I am now home and picked up wings on the way. I will finish up notes in the next hour, play with my daughter for a few hours. Then, I will go get my mom. We are having over just immediate family as I don’t want a huge party so I can concentrate on the game. Can’t wait to watch with my wife, my mom, my daughter, and my son plus the in laws.

Where did you get your wings?

Okay, the Nerd Bowl was a flop. Expected more than one other person there. But that meant I got to watch the Liverpool match before I run out to get the wings.

I seriously hope that match wasn't an omen of things to come as the refs really screwed Liverpool in this one at the end. Awarding not one but two penalties on dives late in the second half (the last one in the the final minute of extra time in the game and ended with the tying goal; the first one was saved).

Oh well on to American football. :)

When you go in deciding that someone in a group is going to be a certain way, of course they're not going to react well to you. If you treat Boston fans like regular people, you have a better chance of getting along with them. If you act like a dick, they might not like you, and then you have a little self-fulfilling prophecy.

Where did I say how I treated them? I am talking about normal conversation. They bring the stuff up, I don't unless it is someone I know well, and even then I stay away from sports due to the way these guys are.

The problem is that area tends to be that way not just about sports, but everything which compounds the issue.

I say we all crash EaglesFan's houses-both of them.

:D

Where did you get your wings?

Purdy's Grill in Galloway. My daughter loves them and they are close to the hospital.

Just killing time by watching some old Jeopardy! eps. I am getting to really dislike the late start time of the SB, because typically by 6:30 on a Sunday I feel like the weekend is essentially over, so I'm getting a little bummed that the workweek is just around the corner.

I'm trying not to get the feeling of dread of having to additionally have to deal with an Eagles loss (and nearly as bad, another Patriots win). I keep trying to tell myself that this is all gravy, as I expected the Eagles to go 9-7 this year. And being removed from Philly, I'm a little detached and I've avoided pretty much all of the buildup. I'd like to be feeling pleasantly surprised in a few hours, but fear that in about too I'm going to be really grumpy.

Just went from hyped to nervous. :)

Just killing time by watching some old Jeopardy! eps. I am getting to really dislike the late start time of the SB, because typically by 6:30 on a Sunday I feel like the weekend is essentially over, so I'm getting a little bummed that the workweek is just around the corner.

I'm trying not to get the feeling of dread of having to additionally have to deal with an Eagles loss (and nearly as bad, another Patriots win). I keep trying to tell myself that this is all gravy, as I expected the Eagles to go 9-7 this year. And being removed from Philly, I'm a little detached and I've avoided pretty much all of the buildup. I'd like to be feeling pleasantly surprised in a few hours, but fear that in about too I'm going to be really grumpy.

I have to get up at 315a. I may not even make it to the half before I need to shut it off.

"Concussion" has really ruined big hits in football for me. No matter who it is, what team, what game, I cringe and my stomach hurts every time.

I was looking back the NFC dominance from 1981-1995 where you had 4 NFC teams winning 14 of 15, and were battling as #1 and #2 seeds every year.

Regardless of the outcome of tonight's game, I hope to see the return of that NFC dominance. I think we will with the Eagles, Rams and ? and ?.

"Concussion" has really ruined big hits in football for me. No matter who it is, what team, what game, I cringe and my stomach hurts every time.

Me too.

"Concussion" has really ruined big hits in football for me. No matter who it is, what team, what game, I cringe and my stomach hurts every time.

I haven't even seen Concussion and I am cringing.

I didn't follow--any reason why that wasn't flagged? Is it because Cooks wasn't a defenseless receiver and was moving around on his own? It looked to me like the defender almost launched into him helmet to helmet.

At that point he was a runner, so no foul.

Chief, what are you waiting for? I had a hard time deciding to sit down for it the first time too, but it grabs you pretty quick.

At that point he was a runner, so no foul.

Okay, that's what I figured. Seems like a loophole to me there somewhere. That was pretty blatant.

Eagles doing a good job right now. I think Foles has shown he is no fluke this offseason.

I think best commercial so far is Ram truck with the vikings. Queen is always good!

Kickers must be drunk.

Wow, what a great catch and run!

Kick the FG

That's what I would have done ... but hey, gutsy call that paid off

Okay, that's what I figured. Seems like a loophole to me there somewhere. That was pretty blatant.

I completely disagree, he was leading with his shoulder and the helmets happened to hit. Im all for protecting the players (been personally concussed five times, so I get it), but at some point, defenders need to be able to tackle still.

I completely disagree, he was leading with his shoulder and the helmets happened to hit. Im all for protecting the players (been personally concussed five times, so I get it), but at some point, defenders need to be able to tackle still.

I don't disagree with you in general on this. I just disagree with the degree to which he was leading with his shoulder versus his helmet. I think his approach was intentionally reckelss. No reason to not just collapse on the guy and bring him down that way.

Gotta feel for that kid. Does the initial shot with JT. Then camera comes back and does the selfie. Then, oh crap, it's back again, what should I do now? I'll text my BFF.

That Verizon add was kinda tasteless.

Missed the Verizon ad. What was it?

That Verizon add was kinda tasteless.

not watching halftime-what ad?

not watching halftime-what ad?

It was actually a very nice commercial about victims thanking first responders. Of course the tag line was that Verizon made it possible. Just seemed tacky.

Wow, so apparently that trick play on the Eagles touchdown was an Illegal Formation that the officials missed. Interesting to see how big of a factor that will be in this game.

Pats getting roasted on 3rd down.

Wow, so apparently that trick play on the Eagles touchdown was an Illegal Formation that the officials missed. Interesting to see how big of a factor that will be in this game.

Citation?

Great catch, tough throw into triple coverage. Bigly score for the Eagles.

Citation?

Nick Foles Appears to Have Been in Illegal Formation on Awesome Trick TD Play | The Big Lead (http://thebiglead.com/2018/02/04/nick-foles-eagles-illegal-formation/)

I want the Eagles to win but I don't think he had control of that TD pass.

Citation?

Trump Twitter...😀

The receiver at the top of the formation was arguably off the line of scrimmage.

Soccer dive...

Nick Foles Appears to Have Been in Illegal Formation on Awesome Trick TD Play | The Big Lead (http://thebiglead.com/2018/02/04/nick-foles-eagles-illegal-formation/)

Damn. Sucks they missed that one. :devil:

Excitement, toughness, speed, individual story lines, athletic play, a concussion and a catch-or-no-catch discussion.
NFL in a nutshell.

Only thing missing is a comeback from behind victory for the Patriots.

Last team with the ball wins?

Trump Twitter...😀

RULE 7-5-1
OFFENSIVE TEAM. The offensive team must be in compliance with the following at the snap:
(a) It must have seven or more players on the line

They did. Receiver at the top was within range.

I fear that may be the game.

They did. Receiver at the top was within range.

Citation? The guy is about a yard and a half behind the line, it's not even close.

Yeah, there was definitely no room on the Bengals for Burkhead, Flowers and Elliott.

grrrr

That Eagles defense lol

So no replay of that strip?

was pretty obvious forward progress had been stopped.

Doug Pederson is coaching to win this game. What a call there.

Hell of a call. Hell of a game

Great showing by both teams and a great game. Well done.

Seemed to me the ball was out before the whistle. I am watching over the air so can't rewind. Would have been nice to see a replay

He broke the plane. Touchdown.

Has to be a touchdown. He took two steps with the ball.

He's clearly a runner at that point.

How fitting for the NFL that this stupid rule comes up on the biggest stage.

He's clearly a runner at that point.

I hope so.

If this is over turned. Im out

I like these announcers, but he catches it at the 5 for god sakes, of course he's a runner.

This is going to be a long final two minutes.

What constitutes pass Interference now? Dude doesn't turn to play the ball and pushes the receiver.

Yeah!

Fuck. Congrats, Philadelphia.

Hell of a game. Sooner or later one of those has to happen :(

That timeout opens the playbook.

I didn't think I'd be this overcome emotionally, but I'm fucking crying like a little girl.

Was hoping play action there.

Mmm, it's not over yet guys.

One more RPO and it's over

This has been a hell of a game.

What a game. Congrats, Eagles fans!!

Yup, congrats. Even EF27.

That was good from start to finish.

Helluva job by the Eagles.

Heck of a game.

Great game. Congrats Eagles.

There were some iffy calls but you played great enough where no one can doubt that you can/did beat the Patriots.

Well, the small, very thin silver lining as a Giants fan is that this now makes the NFC East the first division to have all four teams with a Super Bowl win. That's cool.

Plus most of my friends and family are Eagles fans, so good for them.

:D

Great game. Eagles' fans should be proud. That was an earned win.

And, man, watching Brady in that game felt like watching Brees all these years. All you can do as a QB is score and score and score. When your defense sets records for giving up yards, there's just nothing you can do.

I have no words. Eternal smile.

So how good is Foles?

Do the Eagles trade him off a hot run?

I don't disagree with you in general on this. I just disagree with the degree to which he was leading with his shoulder versus his helmet. I think his approach was intentionally reckelss. No reason to not just collapse on the guy and bring him down that way.

Yeah, I hear you. It's just tough because if he doesn't go all out and the play isn't made (for any reason, not just him pulling up short), he's the goat (and not the good kind).

Our group thinks the Tide ads were clear winners. Honorable mention to the Dodge Vikings commercial.

Congratulations to all the Eagle fans.

I am glad to see that the folks at my party weren’t the only ones wondering if the Ertz TD would be overturned.

Most yards given up in a NFL game. Eagles DC- former Lions head coach. Pats DC- future Lions head coach. Perfect.

So Nick Foles = Matt Saracen (or vice versa) right?

I mean, not only are the stories similar but they even sound alike.

It was actually a very nice commercial about victims thanking first responders. Of course the tag line was that Verizon made it possible. Just seemed tacky.

ah yes can see why someone would think that. My vote for the worst message was the Kraft one-nice montage of families cooking/eating and then proclaiming basically any kind of family was ok. I've probably been influenced by my "unbelievable inhumanity" thread of late, but no not every kind of family is ok.

Congrats to the Eagles and their fans!

So how good is Foles?

Do the Eagles trade him off a hot run?

Foles is a backup quarterback capable of winning the super bowl with a great team around him. He could start on some average to below average teams. Eagles would be wise to keep him and his 5.5 million contract. Having a backup like Foles is underrated in the NFL. Look at what happened to the Packers when Rogers went out. Its that all too common situation in the NFL where a team overpays for a player based on a small sample size and unusual situations. The Eagles TEAM was fantastic and Foles was put into a situation to be successful. If you put Foles on the Browns he isnt going to look much different that what they are used to.

Congrats to the Eagles and to the classy Eagle fans out there. To the idiot Eagle fans you didnt deserve this outcome.

Was a great game offensively, not so much defensively, so I probably would not rate it as one of the top Super Bowls of all time. On the other hand the Patriots lost...

Duracell wins the Super Bowl.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Batteries hold a sacred place in the history of Philly fans. Congratulations, Philadelphia, and Fly, Duracell, Fly. <a href="https://t.co/qkEcPbFj4N">pic.twitter.com/qkEcPbFj4N</a></p>&mdash; Duracell (@Duracell) <a href="https://twitter.com/Duracell/status/960352900546547712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Our group thinks the Tide ads were clear winners. Honorable mention to the Dodge Vikings commercial.

I liked the Tide ads too.

Fun, frustrating game, but I'm happy for all the Eagles fans I've met over the years and my mother's side of the family from Philadelphia who tried to get me into the Eagles when I was kid.

So WTF is the Malcolm Butler story? Apparently he said "They gave up on me. F—. It is what it is,” to Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter after the game. And apparently Belichek said it’s not a disciplinary action.

Odd time to send some sort of message.

The Tide ads were some of the most genius marketing of all time. Legit made every ad a Tide ad. We watched for dirty clothes in subsequent commercials and there were remarkably few. One of the best ads I've seen.

The ads that seemed to be flaunting charity pissed me off. Don't bullshit me with common courtesy and pass it off as a great sacrifice for your fellow man.

Patriots apparently first team ever, in any game, to put up 600 yards of offense and lose.

So WTF is the Malcolm Butler story? Apparently he said "They gave up on me. F—. It is what it is,” to Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter after the game. And apparently Belichek said it’s not a disciplinary action.

Odd time to send some sort of message.

Yeah, this was super odd to me. I am finding it hard to believe we know the whole story right now, but then again my brain can't figure out what/where it could conceivably go from here.

It's an honor to even be here. To my wife, my teammates -- nubmer 81. I know you're looking down on us--, to my parents... I wish I could win this for you, but I'll be back. I still feel like we're in a position to win next year.

- Tom Brady


And he had AH81 in black sharpie on his hand per reports. Kind of... weird. I get he may have been a good teammate but......

I really don't know how to put how I feel into words. I'm happy. Just happy.

And he had AH81 in black sharpie on his hand per reports. Kind of... weird. I get he may have been a good teammate but......

I didn't listen to his post game press conference but I'm reading on Reddit that this is made up and he didn't actually say that

Congrats to the Philly fans! May the vomit be ever happily flowing onto fellow fans at the parade!

PFF isn't the be all and end all, but they had Butler as a pretty average CB and Rowe as one of the worst in the league. When you give up 375 yards and 3 TD's to Nick Foles, maybe the Patriots just out Patriot-ed themselves on this one. You can understand why he's not happy about it.

I didn't listen to his post game press conference but I'm reading on Reddit that this is made up and he didn't actually say that

That's what I get for reading Twitter

The feelings of watching that with my mom, my son, and the rest of my family are indescribable. So elated right now.

The feelings of watching that with my mom, my son, and the rest of my family are indescribable. So elated right now.

Congrats Eaglesfan27

So will this be remembered as what happens when two great offenses go at it or the most defense-less game ever? Looking at stats, it seems like a pro bowl.

I really wish that Wentz had been able to play, but he still gets a ring, which is awesome. Very happy with the Eagles win.

Kevin Harlan and Boomer Esiason on the radio is like AIDS for your ears. Literally Harlan is the fucking worst. And Boomer doesn't even say anything what he talks. The only highlight of the radio broadcast was that they would occasionally ask Mike Holmgren for an opinion or a take and he was pretty good

So WTF is the Malcolm Butler story? Apparently he said "They gave up on me. F—. It is what it is,” to Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter after the game. And apparently Belichek said it’s not a disciplinary action.

Odd time to send some sort of message.

This is the same coach who benched Wes Welker for the start of a playoff game. If the benching was for disciplinary reasons, he gets credit from me. If the rules are the rules, he has to bench him

I couldn't bear to watch something I cared about that little and a franchise with people that are ruining the casual football market. I did not watch because the Pats were in it. So glad they lost but I'm afraid they'll never go away

Congrats to the Eagles fans here, I have a couple in my family so I was happy to root for them.

Eagles Superbowl Champs - Merrill Reese and Mike Quick Call it! - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXz9jTVbX_E)

From about week 5 onwards, I’ve believed that the Eagles were the best team in the NFL and the playoffs and Super Bowl proved it. When Carson went down, the experts inexplicably dropped them from 1 to 4, even behind Minnesota. They were the best in the NFC all season long, with the Pats the best in the AFC, and I think everyone agreed that the NFCwas clearly better than the AFC (and will likely be for years to come).

Congrats to Eagles fans. It was like watching the Pats play themselves, well deserved and a great game.

I was extremely impressed with Doug Pederson; I'm not sure how much of that was the fact that the Eagles were successful on all those 4th down "gambles," but my short-term memory is telling me I liked the calls before they were successful.

I don't catch a lot of Eagles games; has he been highly regarded for a while? In very early hindsight this seemed like an extremely well coached/gameplanned/executed game by the Eagles.

I was dreading them going for it on 4th every time, because I knew it was the right call and I knew they'd probably get it. I've seen teams lose to the Patriots who weren't being nearly aggressive enough.

And I think it's the statistically correct call most times. You just need a coach willing to pull the trigger.

I did not get a chance to listen to most of the NFL podcasts that I usually listen to last week. I have spent most of the morning listening back to what people thought may happen. Nick Foles may have topped Tony Eason as the least respected Super Bowl OB in the run up to the game that I can remember.

Great game, terrible logo (looked more like LIII than LII) :D

Not feeling so great now after 4 hours sleep, but worth staying up to watch

Can we just call it Super Bowl 53 next year? Roman Numerals are dumb once you get above 25 or so.

Can we just call it Super Bowl 53 next year? Roman Numerals are dumb once you get above 25 or so.

I couldn't remember how to write 51, 6 and 500 in roman numerals. Not being able to recall made me LIVID

I was extremely impressed with Doug Pederson; I'm not sure how much of that was the fact that the Eagles were successful on all those 4th down "gambles," but my short-term memory is telling me I liked the calls before they were successful.

I don't catch a lot of Eagles games; has he been highly regarded for a while? In very early hindsight this seemed like an extremely well coached/gameplanned/executed game by the Eagles.

I remember some rumblings at the beginning of the year that he was over his head and might not be the right guy for the job. I am glad to see him silence all of his critics. He called a great game and has done so all year.

I couldn't remember how to write 51, 6 and 500 in roman numerals. Not being able to recall made me LIVID

I kept wondering why she wants the 500.

The first 4th down call was riskier. The second one seems definitely the right call since worst case scenario is Pats go up by 8 and Eagles still have a shot.

The ratings are in.

Still going to be the most viewed TV show of the year but..

Super Bowl Delivers Smallest Television Audience Since 2009 - Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-05/eagles-first-super-bowl-can-t-reverse-falling-nfl-tv-audience)

103.4 million watched. Down from the 111 million from last year.

I saw another article that added 2.6 million viewers via Comcast-owned streaming options.

So i guess Butler missed a team flight, several curfews and was getting stoned in the lead up to the game?

I remember some rumblings at the beginning of the year that he was over his head and might not be the right guy for the job. I am glad to see him silence all of his critics. He called a great game and has done so all year.

Seriously one of the better called games I have seen in the Superbowl from an offensive standpoint. Patricia does not get outcoached much, and even when his defenses struggle early he is adept at making adjustments. He was given a clinic yesterday.

So i guess Butler missed a team flight, several curfews and was getting stoned in the lead up to the game?

Not sure of your source but this article has an explanation for the missed flight.

Patriots notebook: Malcolm Butler battling through illness | Boston Herald (http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/2018/02/patriots_notebook_malcolm_butler_battling_through_illness)

Maybe they were actually lying earlier in the week.

Not sure of your source but this article has an explanation for the missed flight.

Patriots notebook: Malcolm Butler battling through illness | Boston Herald (http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/2018/02/patriots_notebook_malcolm_butler_battling_through_illness)

Maybe they were actually lying earlier in the week.

That sounds like cover frankly. The scuttle hinges on a divided locker room and his emotion pregame just fuels that.

Still going to be the most viewed TV show of the year but..

Super Bowl Delivers Smallest Television Audience Since 2009 - Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-05/eagles-first-super-bowl-can-t-reverse-falling-nfl-tv-audience)



More interestingly, perhaps, is that the 7% decline is very much in line with the 8% dropoff for the conference championships and the 9% drop in the regular season overall.

Those of us who are gone are, well, gone. And neither commercials nor halftime shows change that.

Here's to a continued steady decline.

The ratings are in.

Still going to be the most viewed TV show of the year but..

Super Bowl Delivers Smallest Television Audience Since 2009 - Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-05/eagles-first-super-bowl-can-t-reverse-falling-nfl-tv-audience)

103.4 million watched. Down from the 111 million from last year.

I saw another article that added 2.6 million viewers via Comcast-owned streaming options.

That's one of those "shows" that's really hard to get true numbers for. So many parties and groups watching together. I know a bunch of the "never watching NFL again" snowflakes who had their panties in a bunch over the anthem protests who were the first people to ask about going to a party or having their own parties for it (not just Eagles fans but other fans as well).

It's going to be down as the number of options continue to grow and may be harder to get true numbers as the options for viewing it continue to expand.

More interestingly, perhaps, is that the 7% decline is very much in line with the 8% dropoff for the conference championships and the 9% drop in the regular season overall.

Those of us who are gone are, well, gone. And neither commercials nor halftime shows change that.

Here's to a continued steady decline.

:lol:

Cause that's the only possible reason, right?

Who did NASCAR piss off then?

More interestingly, perhaps, is that the 7% decline is very much in line with the 8% dropoff for the conference championships and the 9% drop in the regular season overall.



Makes you wonder why the NFL rigs all these games for the Patriots, as I've been reading here for years.

The picture of Foles looking at the trophy is a great shot.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/02/05/super-bowl-52-eagles-patriots-peter-king-mmqb

More interestingly, perhaps, is that the 7% decline is very much in line with the 8% dropoff for the conference championships and the 9% drop in the regular season overall.

Those of us who are gone are, well, gone. And neither commercials nor halftime shows change that.

Here's to a continued steady decline.

Yet here you are in the Super Bowl thread.

The ratings are in.

Still going to be the most viewed TV show of the year but..

Super Bowl Delivers Smallest Television Audience Since 2009 - Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-05/eagles-first-super-bowl-can-t-reverse-falling-nfl-tv-audience)

103.4 million watched. Down from the 111 million from last year.

I saw another article that added 2.6 million viewers via Comcast-owned streaming options.

A few factors:

The NFL is still doing great. We had just gotten used to it doing greater than great. A reversion to "like other highly rated television" maybe does not need much explanation.

My sense is that the concussion stuff is starting to seep through to the more casual fans. Fans like us have come to peace with it, but I think that the ones most likely to peel off might have started to do that.

I'd really like to see the breakdown by age. Kids today have a lot more entertainment options and are not used to "plop down in front of a non-interactive screen for three hours" as something they want to do. How do the ratings look for that 18-25 yo demographic? Are millennials killing football, too:) ?

Despite my prediction that it would not matter, the police brutality protests do seem to have turned off some fans. Much like with the concussion fans, I don't see those coming back.

Im certainly not the pulse of the entire country but an overwhelming response from people I got that werent going to watch the super bowl were similar to this "Im not going to watch them overpaid assholes shit on our country." I think the decline is directly related to the kneeling problem. A lot of very proud veterans that were previously NFL fans finally said enough is enough.

I'm in the anti-Kapernick, spoiled multi-millionaire ingrate camp and was turned off by the others that copied him. This country, warts and all, is still one of the best places for opportunity and bettering your place in life.

Although initially turned off, I did start watching NFL games again because the protesting has for the most part stopped.

Look at who the Walter Payton Man of the Year was. He likely had done more tangible good to those in need than all of the token protesters this season combined.

Cause that's the only possible reason, right?

Who did NASCAR piss off then?

Well this year they are going to have a black driver. That probably pissed off some of these anti-kneelers ;). They just knew it was eventually going to happened so gradually stopped their watching a few years back...

I think that it's hard to compare. We're having a lot more conversations about police brutality than we would had the players not bothered. Is that worth more or less than headlining a successful fund-raising initiative after a natural disaster?

They are both very good things to do. But the effects and the time horizons are very different.

On a more serious note, is anyone noticing that ratings are down ACROSS THE BOARD? Why are people acting like the NFL is the only sports league, or entertainment programming, that has lower TV ratings?

On a more serious note, is anyone noticing that ratings are down ACROSS THE BOARD? Why are people acting like the NFL is the only sports league, or entertainment programming, that has lower TV ratings?

NBA Ratings Up Nearly 30 Percent on ESPN, TNT | Media - AdAge (http://adage.com/article/media/nba-ratings/311486/)

NBA Ratings Up Nearly 30 Percent on ESPN, TNT | Media - AdAge (http://adage.com/article/media/nba-ratings/311486/)

As another article around the same time of Dec 1 (a day or two earlier) reported:

As NFL ratings drop, ESPN's NBA viewership is up 24 percent this season (http://awfulannouncing.com/nba/espns-nba-viewership-24-percent-season.html)

Now, we should note that 19 games is not a very large sample and that much or all of the ratings bump could owe to the quality of the games the network has aired. Local ratings last season were actually down from 2015-16, and NBA Finals ratings dropped slightly as well.

FWIW, if it holds, NBA may the only major league to be bucking the trend, as MLB's and NHL's ratings have been down as well. NBA players are more politically inclined as well, interestingly enough.

As another article around the same time of Dec 1 (a day or two earlier) reported:

As NFL ratings drop, ESPN's NBA viewership is up 24 percent this season (http://awfulannouncing.com/nba/espns-nba-viewership-24-percent-season.html)



FWIW, if it holds, NBA may the only major league to be bucking the trend, as MLB's and NHL's ratings have been down as well. NBA players are more politically inclined as well, interestingly enough.

I don't think politics matter very much in sports ratings. The vast majority of people are going to watch what entertains them. The NFL's push to become a year-round sport is hurting interest more than anything IMO. People tire of it being at the top of the new cycle 12 months out of the year. Moving the draft back up to where it was and actually having an offseason would be the first step in helping things.

I think that it's hard to compare. We're having a lot more conversations about police brutality than we would had the players not bothered. Is that worth more or less than headlining a successful fund-raising initiative after a natural disaster?

They are both very good things to do. But the effects and the time horizons are very different.

Very much this. The impact of a protest is completely indirect and delayed, while disaster relief is very direct with an immediate payout.

Regarding ratings, several questions.

During the regular season in my household, 90% of our NFL viewing is RedZone. Is that counted in the ratings?

I can watch RedZone but I have a very hard time watching non-RedZone broadcasts*, not because of protestings but due to the insane amount of commercials (and a little bit because of the concussive hits). Fox is the worst, I perceive, and rarely watch any games on Fox. But it looks like it's going to get even worse with their new TNF contract, will they increase the amount of commercials even more? I know Manfred brought it up for MLB and I think Goddell did last year? Is this even changeable??

I understand networks need to not lose money on their contracts but don't you think part of the reason is the exponentially increasing cost of production? I mean, do we really need 18 cameras? Do we need all the gimmicks that add to the need to have even more commercials?

I do like Fox' on-field technology (and that cost money too) even though others are now doing it better. Speaking of that, do you find it funny that Fox put all that effort into its silly robotic/mech graphics but their score line is straight 1970s (compared to the brilliance of NBC's score line)?

So bottom line, since the commissioners did bring it up, don't you think a lot of the drop is due to the amount of commercials? What if they reduced the production costs (number of cameras, personnel, etc.), would that lead to a reduction in the number of commercials?

*caveat: I stopped watching TV regularly about 20 years ago, mostly due to commercials. So that's a bias I have in not being a regular sports viewer as well.

Look at who the Walter Payton Man of the Year was. He likely had done more tangible good to those in need than all of the token protesters this season combined.

He was involved with something that did good but it's not like without his face no one would have helped.

While I suspect Kaepernick's motives weren't all about the cause (more like all about getting himself noticed but it backfired) but the movement that followed put that discussion on the front page. It now led to an NFL program that never would have existed without it.

He was involved with something that did good but it's not like without his face no one would have helped.

While I suspect Kaepernick's motives weren't all about the cause (more like all about getting himself noticed but it backfired) but the movement that followed put that discussion on the front page. It now led to an NFL program that never would have existed without it.

Exactly, and many of these players (Malcolm Jenkins as an example) were putting considerable time and resources into programs to fight injustice and improve the lot of disadvantaged youth, many times in relative obscurity. The protests, as EF mentioned have benefitted Jenkins efforts, as well as many others. So on that alone, they had a positive impact.

He was involved with something that did good but it's not like without his face no one would have helped.

While I suspect Kaepernick's motives weren't all about the cause (more like all about getting himself noticed but it backfired) but the movement that followed put that discussion on the front page. It now led to an NFL program that never would have existed without it.

Kaepernick is doing what he should keep on doing (which included making the last of his million dollar put-his-money-where-his-mouth-is donation) and not be distracted by football (and vice-versa). That's not token, unlike what some of the players this season who just wanted "to bring awareness" without having to sacrifice much because football and its wealth is all-consuming. With Kaep out of football, he can do more if it's true motivation.

During the regular season in my household, 90% of our NFL viewing is RedZone. Is that counted in the ratings?

Good question. I would like to know that one as well.

[QUOTE=Buccaneer;3194348I can watch RedZone but I have a very hard time watching non-RedZone broadcasts*, not because of protestings but due to the insane amount of commercials (and a little bit because of the concussive hits). Fox is the worst, I perceive, and rarely watch any games on Fox. But it looks like it's going to get even worse with their new TNF contract, will they increase the amount of commercials even more? I know Manfred brought it up for MLB and I think Goddell did last year? Is this even changeable??

I understand networks need to not lose money on their contracts but don't you think part of the reason is the exponentially increasing cost of production? I mean, do we really need 18 cameras? Do we need all the gimmicks that add to the need to have even more commercials?

I do like Fox' on-field technology (and that cost money too) even though others are now doing it better. Speaking of that, do you find it funny that Fox put all that effort into its silly robotic/mech graphics but their score line is straight 1970s (compared to the brilliance of NBC's score line)?

So bottom line, since the commissioners did bring it up, don't you think a lot of the drop is due to the amount of commercials? What if they reduced the production costs (number of cameras, personnel, etc.), would that lead to a reduction in the number of commercials?

*caveat: I stopped watching TV regularly about 20 years ago, mostly due to commercials. So that's a bias I have in not being a regular sports viewer as well.[/QUOTE]

I am assuming that a reduction in the commercials will result in less money in the owners' pockets so I don't think that is happening any time soon.

Congrats to the Eagles and their fans. Lost a great game to a very good team. Not the first one we've lost, and at least we're still 8 for 8 on playing good/close games.
Wouldn't mind a rematch next year at all :)Congratulations to all the Eagle fans.

I am glad to see that the folks at my party weren’t the only ones wondering if the Ertz TD would be overturned.
My thoughts on the 3 "questionable" TD's - couldn't care less about whether Jeffrey was on the line (if it had been a tackle eligible play or there was a question if he was supposed to be covering up Foles mayyyybe, but Foles was in the backfield, and that's always seemed like such a judgment call when the WR is out wide), thought Ertz had obviously turned into a runner and couldn't understand why the refs reviewed that one for so long,
but I think once Clement had possession his 2nd foot was clearly on the white & that should've been overturned based on the way the rule was called most of the season. Pats still had the lead in the 4th and the Eagles made plenty of plays to win, and we benefited from a few high profile technical calls like that this year, but that's one I think is overturned 8 or 9 out of 10 times during the season.
Yeah, this was super odd to me. I am finding it hard to believe we know the whole story right now, but then again my brain can't figure out what/where it could conceivably go from here.PFF isn't the be all and end all, but they had Butler as a pretty average CB and Rowe as one of the worst in the league. When you give up 375 yards and 3 TD's to Nick Foles, maybe the Patriots just out Patriot-ed themselves on this one. You can understand why he's not happy about it.This is definitely one that no one understands right now. Any other team I'd assume the rumors of multiple missed curfews & getting caught with weed had to be true, but I think it's just a case of Belichick/Patricia outsmarting themselves and trusting too much in their schemes over talent. He definitely was sick (or "sick") to start the week, and there has been friction all year over Butler's impending free agency, but at a certain point he played 97% of the snaps this year for a reason, and playing Eric Rowe (a serviceable NFL CB) is one thing and Johnson Bademosi/Jordan Richards is another, especially after a 1st half you got absolutely torched. It shouldn't take away from a great Philly gameplan, some very good plays they made, and the complete lack of QB pressure that meant we could've had Ty Law in that spot & it wouldn't have mattered most plays.

I also wouldn't put it past Belichick to franchise tag or re-sign Butler just to make everyone's heads explode :lol:

So how good is Foles?

Do the Eagles trade him off a hot run?If you get a godfather offer during the draft, maybe, but with Wentz's injury happening late in the season & Foles under contract at a reasonable amount I think I'd hold on to him for now and make sure Wentz is back healthy (and if necessary you don't need to rush him back and end up in a Luck-like situation.) Can likely trade him next trade deadline for a 2nd/3rd rounder if Wentz comes back 100%, and with his personality, bad experiences in other organizations, and knowledge his contract runs out after 2018 I don't think Foles would be any sort of bad apple if he's the backup next season.
I was extremely impressed with Doug Pederson; I'm not sure how much of that was the fact that the Eagles were successful on all those 4th down "gambles," but my short-term memory is telling me I liked the calls before they were successful.

I don't catch a lot of Eagles games; has he been highly regarded for a while? In very early hindsight this seemed like an extremely well coached/gameplanned/executed game by the Eagles.ESPN infamously labeled him the worst hire 2 offseasons ago (and Hue Jackson the best). He was always an offensive assistant under Reid, coming off a bad playoff loss to the Patriots where the Chiefs had a methodical 8 minute drive down 2 scores in the 4th quarter, and I think a lot of people gave most of the credit for any offensive success or gameplanning of those offenses to Reid more than him. I do think a large part of his success is having a good staff under him and a very talented roster, but he seems like he listens to smart people under him and has the right amount of aggressiveness you want in a head coach.

The little pause by Pederson after Foles suggested to run the Philly Special is incredible.

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/NFoles_9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFoles_9</a> made the call, made the touchdown and made history. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PhillySpecial?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PhillySpecial</a><br><br>Watch more <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLFilms?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLFilms</a> highlights on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InsideTheNFL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InsideTheNFL</a> finale TONIGHT 9PM ET/PT on Showtime.<a href="https://twitter.com/Eagles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Eagles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SBLII?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SBLII</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyEaglesFly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyEaglesFly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eagles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eagles</a> <a href="https://t.co/jIDrfeYpVW">pic.twitter.com/jIDrfeYpVW</a></p>&mdash; Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/insidetheNFL/status/960988157264068608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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That's some great film. Make that the last play of the game and it is straight out of a movie.

That's some great film. Make that the last play of the game and it is straight out of a movie.

like the comanche play from Any given sunday!

Yeah, that was a great call and a good history behind that play. The Eagles won because they did what the Falcons and Jaguars would not do - keep playing aggressive till the end, the best way to beat the Pats.

That's some great film. Make that the last play of the game and it is straight out of a movie.

If that was in a movie, even Denzel wouldn't have been able to nail Peterson's perfect combined reaction of surprise, excitement, agreement, and "this guy has some balls!".

If that was in a movie, even Denzel wouldn't have been able to nail Peterson's perfect combined reaction of surprise, excitement, agreement, and "this guy has some balls!".

But if it was like Denzel’s movie or any other “based on a true story” football movie, they would have had the Eagles come back from a big deficit and win on the final play.

But if it was like Denzel’s movie or any other “based on a true story” football movie, they would have had the Eagles come back from a big deficit and win on the final play.

Fake 23 Blast with a Backside George Reverse

The Triple Lindy