14 Feb 2023 9:42 am
A player did determine the outcome...by holding a receiver.RedheadedStranger » 14 Feb 2023, 8:44 am » wrote: ↑ No, I would have preferred to see the players actually determine the outcome at the end, rather than the referees... as seems to be the case in today's NFL.
I heard a commentator say earlier in the season, "With the rules like they are today, any official can find any number of reasons to throw a flag or overturn a call on any given play, and it's hurting the game." and I agree.
The Devonta Smith catch on the sideline is another example. In the NFL I grew up watching, that would have never even been questioned.
I personally think it's a bigger reason for the league losing viewers than Kaepernick taking a knee. The same thing has happened to NASCAR too.
At that point in the game, KC was going to go take the lead anyway (they were in FG range already)and force Philly drive the field or lose either way. It was just disappointing to see the officials decide how it was going to play out by throwing a flag that really didn't need to be thrown.
Like I said, it's just my opinion.
As for losing viewers...that's a bit of a misnomer. Total regular season traditional viewer numbers decrease this season...but Thursday Night Football moved to Amazon Prime and Monday Night Football is on ESPN...a network that is losing subscribers in general. Additionally, more and more people are watching the NFL via streaming services. Traditional Sunday games on over-the-air broadcast platforms (Fox, CBS and NBC) have actually seen an increase in ratings.