Imagine a world where even the NFL realizes the JA led Bills are their "golden goose"

[Michael1962]

I have not seen anyone address this, it is logical speculation.  At some point even the NFL will realize that the success and progression of the JA led Bills is in their financial self interest.  At that point the office/s on high would let the Officials know to protect JA and promote the Bills.  Or maybe it works some other way?  Wouldn't it be strange to see the Zebra calls/flags be in favor of the Bills as they seem to have been for Brady and other NFL money-makers?  I don't see this happening overnight but would not be surprised to see it over a several year period.  Any thoughts?  If my tech skills were better I would add a Rod Serling link, instead all I have is this:  https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2020/1/7/21051577/buffalo-bills-once-again-draw-huge-tv-ratings

[Jrb1979]

Not surprised. The Sabres have high numbers when on national TV too. 

[78thealltimegreat]

The Bills have a sleeper National following from the Kelly years and they are starting to emerge from hibernation..having used to work in pa outside of Philly for awhile I can vouch even in the heart of Eagles country a surprising number of people walking around with Bills gear 

Edited January 8, 2020 by 78thealltimegreat

[billsherd]

Looking forward to some late games next year. How does NFL decide the 4:05  PM and 4:35 PM match ups? Bills rarely get these games and none recently at home.

[reddogblitz]

5 minutes ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

The Bills have a sleeper National following from the Kelly years and they are starting to emerge from hibernation..having used to work in pa outside of Philly for awhile I can vouch even in the heart of Eagles country a surprising number of people walking around with Bills gear 

 

This is soooooo true. I run in to Bills fans EVERYWHERE I go. Bills have a lot of fans.  I predicted they would come out  if we ever got good and sure enough they are.

 

Was also thinking myself that since Buffalo gets huge viewership maybe the NFL should stop screwing us at some point and get on board.

[LABILLBACKER]

As long as Brady plays for NE, we're not getting any love from the NFL. That was loud and clear watching the ridiculous JJ Watt pregame on all channels. I think it will come but not for another year or 2. Eventually Josh, Lamar & Patrick will be the tv/ revenue kings of the AFC.  Right now the marquee AFC championship matchup will be KC v Balt. You can take that to the bank. And the calls the Chiefs and Ravens get this weekend will reflect this.

[Buffalo716]

12 minutes ago, billsherd said:

Looking forward to some late games next year. How does NFL decide the 4:05  PM and 4:35 PM match ups? Bills rarely get these games and none recently at home.

Because they are West coast time slots and central I believe

 

Bills are 1pm eastern or they have to be MNF or SNF. The 4:05 west coast games are 1pm east coast slots

[HOUSE]

18 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

As long as Brady plays for NE, we're not getting any love from the NFL. That was loud and clear watching the ridiculous JJ Watt pregame on all channels. I think it will come but not for another year or 2. Eventually Josh, Lamar & Patrick will be the tv/ revenue kings of the AFC.  Right now the marquee AFC championship matchup will be KC v Balt. You can take that to the bank. And the calls the Chiefs and Ravens get this weekend will reflect this.

 

That JJ Watt love was ridiculous. BUT, it did remind me of another over hyped player...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2020 by HOUSE

[reddogblitz]

13 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

As long as Brady plays for NE, we're not getting any love from the NFL. That was loud and clear watching the ridiculous JJ Watt pregame on all channels. I think it will come but not for another year or 2. Eventually Josh, Lamar & Patrick will be the tv/ revenue kings of the AFC.  Right now the marquee AFC championship matchup will be KC v Balt. You can take that to the bank. And the calls the Chiefs and Ravens get this weekend will reflect this.

 

My conspiracy theory is, given how the NFL loves to pump the young QBs, they were hot for Mahommes vs Watson game followed by the winner vs Jackson.    Josh is young too, but his offense sucks, so no dice.  So, as usual, they left nothing to chance and got what they wanted all along.

[billsherd]

8 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Because they are West coast time slots and central I believe

 

Bills are 1pm eastern or they have to be MNF or SNF. The 4:05 west coast games are 1pm east coast slots

I see, so bills have no chance of getting these timings.I find  4 o'clock games are perfect not too early and not too late 

[Mr. WEO]

17 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

As long as Brady plays for NE, we're not getting any love from the NFL. That was loud and clear watching the ridiculous JJ Watt pregame on all channels. I think it will come but not for another year or 2. Eventually Josh, Lamar & Patrick will be the tv/ revenue kings of the AFC.  Right now the marquee AFC championship matchup will be KC v Balt. You can take that to the bank. And the calls the Chiefs and Ravens get this weekend will reflect this.

 

what is a TV revenue king?

 

The network contracts are set for years at a time, no matter who the "best" teams are.

[eball]

24 minutes ago, billsherd said:

Looking forward to some late games next year. How does NFL decide the 4:05  PM and 4:35 PM match ups? Bills rarely get these games and none recently at home.

 

I expect no fewer than three primetime games.  They have a great schedule...home games vs. KC, NE***, PIT, LAR, SEA, and road games vs. OAK (in the new Vegas stadium), NE***, SF, TEN.

[skibum]

Everyone loves an underdog, and a QB who does crazy stuff. 

[BADOLBILZ]

 

The Bills/Steelers game was actually a below season-average viewed Thursday night game............but the spin was that it was the highest rated TV broadcast that week.......which that time slot kinda' always is.?

 

 

Bills got a little ways to go before they are a national ratings driver by themselves.    

[Andy1]

If they can get or develop a few more weapons around Allen, the Bills will be even more of a draw for the casual fan to watch. Josh is an exciting player to watch, for both good an bad reasons, but it is still ratings for the networks and NFL. Ratings=Respect by the league officials. It may take some time but I think it will happen.

[Prickly Pete]

I was thinking today about how, if the Bills had sustained some reasonable success after the Kelly years, they could have become one of the "traditional teams" with a really big National (and even International) following, and joined the ranks of the Steelers and Broncos as (though maybe a bit lower ranked) one of those kind of teams.

[Mr. WEO]

1 hour ago, skibum said:

Everyone loves an underdog, and a QB who does crazy stuff. 

 

 

....said no one in Tampa Bay

[egd]

3 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

what is a TV revenue king?

 

The network contracts are set for years at a time, no matter who the "best" teams are.

 

The network makes more money covering certain teams due to increased viewership. More money means the NFL can get more money from the networks when it is time to re-bid.

17 minutes ago, 32ABBA said:

I was thinking today about how, if the Bills had sustained some reasonable success after the Kelly years, they could have become one of the "traditional teams" with a really big National (and even International) following, and joined the ranks of the Steelers and Broncos as (though maybe a bit lower ranked) one of those kind of teams.

 

Denver is so-so for ratings. The big draws in the AFC are New England and Pittsburgh, with huge national followings. In the NFC, it is Dallas and Green Bay, followed by the rest of the NFC East.

 

It will be very hard for Buffalo to break through without sustained success, and even then...

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

For some reason on nfl network for the “round tables” the little picture in the direct TV guide is Josh Allen ?‍♂️. Maybe it’s starting?

[egd]

4 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Because they are West coast time slots and central I believe

 

Bills are 1pm eastern or they have to be MNF or SNF. The 4:05 west coast games are 1pm east coast slots

 

He meant some east coast teams get a 4 PM time slot where much of the nation sees them (that slot is not just for west coast).

[Mr. WEO]

9 minutes ago, egd said:

 

The network makes more money covering certain teams due to increased viewership. More money means the NFL can get more money from the networks when it is time to re-bid.

 

The thread topic is about the NFL's revenue ("golden goose"), not how the networks make their broadcast rights fees back.  Plus the NFL makes up the schedule.  Most games are locally committed and the national games are set by the league.   Networks obviously don't share with the NFl how much revenue they make televising the games.

 

The overall viewership annually will be what the networks use to bargain the rates for the next round of broadcast rights fees.  Nothing they can do about who plays when.

Edited January 9, 2020 by Mr. WEO

[egd]

1 minute ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

The thread topic is about the NFL's revenue ("golden goose"), not how the networks make their broadcast rights fees back.  Plus the NFL makes up the schedule.  Most games are locally committed and the national games are set by the league. 

 

The overall viewership annually will be what the networks use to bargain the rates for the next round of broadcast rights fees.  Nothing they can do about who plays when.

 

The networks do have input on the schedule. The NFL wants to accommodate them to the extent possible to keep them happy. Better ratings mean the NFL gets more in the next contract.

[Mr. WEO]

Just now, egd said:

 

The networks do have input on the schedule. The NFL wants to accommodate them to the extent possible to keep them happy. Better ratings mean the NFL gets more in the next contract.

 

It's too unpredictable anyway---every year lots of what looked like the previous year to be marquee prime matchups don't look that way when the following year the games are played.

 

Most of the televised games are committed by the NFL.  I don't know what games the networks have input on scheduling.

[egd]

1 minute ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

It's too unpredictable anyway---every year lots of what looked like the previous year to be marquee prime matchups don't look that way when the following year the games are played.

 

Most of the televised games are committed by the NFL.  I don't know what games the networks have input on scheduling.

 

For SNF, the NFL likes to schedule "risky" teams that may suck after the date they are allowed to flex them out in favor of a better match up. That is not always the case, but if the Bills do get SNF, expect it to be in the middle of the season or later.

[Warcodered]

I mean this last year the media was focused on Baker and Darnold and with the way both tanked this season and especially with the Jets hanging onto Gase they might focus more on Allen with a team that actually made the Playoffs.

[Mr. WEO]

1 minute ago, egd said:

 

For SNF, the NFL likes to schedule "risky" teams that may suck after the date they are allowed to flex them out in favor of a better match up. That is not always the case, but if the Bills do get SNF, expect it to be in the middle of the season or later.

 

 

Yes, the NFL does that.  The networks don't pick.  

 

SNF is the premiere prime time game now (followed by TNF), so hope the Bills get flexed later, because that means they are doing well.

[LSHMEAB]

4 hours ago, Michael1962 said:

I have not seen anyone address this, it is logical speculation.  At some point even the NFL will realize that the success and progression of the JA led Bills is in their financial self interest.  At that point the office/s on high would let the Officials know to protect JA and promote the Bills.  Or maybe it works some other way?

I'm not dismissing your thought, but I think you have it backwards. 

 

Allen has everything "TV" is looking for in a QB, but he's got to play better in order for the Bills to become appealing to casual fans.

 

Bills, Browns, KC, Indy. These are teams lacking national "luster" for whatever reason; small market, etc. Teams such as the Bills need a star at QB. As much as Allen fits the mold, the play will need to match the image in order for this to happen.

[Prickly Pete]

1 hour ago, egd said:

 

The network makes more money covering certain teams due to increased viewership. More money means the NFL can get more money from the networks when it is time to re-bid.

 

Denver is so-so for ratings. The big draws in the AFC are New England and Pittsburgh, with huge national followings. In the NFC, it is Dallas and Green Bay, followed by the rest of the NFC East.

 

It will be very hard for Buffalo to break through without sustained success, and even then...

 

Yeah, thanks. I know what the pecking order is...

Denver is 7th overall, 3rd in the AFC after the Steelers, and they have sucked since Manning retired.

 

Anyway, I still believe a sustained top 10  national following was within their grasp. 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2020 by 32ABBA

[LABILLBACKER]

6 hours ago, HOUSE said:

 

That JJ Watt love was ridiculous. BUT, it did remind me of something

 

 

 

 

 

It was like Tedy Bruschi week....the league doesn't even try to disguise favoritism anymore. 

[LABILLBACKER]

6 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

what is a TV revenue king?

 

The network contracts are set for years at a time, no matter who the "best" teams are.

The contracts have nothing to do with it. Contracts are set years in advance but schedules aren't.  Marquee games with stars like Brady attract far more eyeballs and advertising revenue than a young developing qb. Brady, JJ, Aaron Rodgers etc are all tv revenue kings. The fact that we were put on Thanksgiving and flexed for Pittsburgh is a big deal.  If Josh keep trending up the primetime games will follow. Unfortunately last Saturday,  JJ and Watson were the kings.

[LABILLBACKER]

2 hours ago, LSHMEAB said:

I'm not dismissing your thought, but I think you have it backwards. 

 

Allen has everything "TV" is looking for in a QB, but he's got to play better in order for the Bills to become appealing to casual fans.

 

Bills, Browns, KC, Indy. These are teams lacking national "luster" for whatever reason; small market, etc. Teams such as the Bills need a star at QB. As much as Allen fits the mold, the play will need to match the image in order for this to happen.

Completely agree. For Buffalo to move up to a higher tier in the eyes of the NFL, Josh will have to become both a franchise qb and super compelling to the league.  Its doable!

[B Rob]

I live in lower Delaware. I was a Baltimore Colt fan as a kid. When they moved there was no way I was going to follow the Redskins. I picked up being a bills fan in 89 and haven't looked back. I was 15 when they started their super bowl run and thought man it's great being a fan of a team that makes it too the playoffs every year. 

 

Then 97 to 17 happened. If nothing else it makes you appreciate years like this year. I think this team is on the right track to bring great. Allen has one thing that I hope he never losses. He seems to be overly competitive. That's why he shows up late in the game when it's on the line. 

[LOVEMESOMEBILLS]

 

Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people 

Living for today...Aha-ah...

 

[Dr.Sack]

No one wants to root for a loser. Luckily we are on the up. No doubt we will have our work cut out in 2020 given our opponents. I think 9 or 10 wins, wins the AFC East. 

[GunnerBill]

Would this mean the insane conspiracy theories might disappear? About how Bill Belichick faked the moon landing and all officials are being remote controlled by Ernie Adams working in an underground bunker?

[Ray Stonada]

We have tons of fans not just all over the country, but all over the world. I saw someone in the same Bills winter hat I've had since I was 15, walking down the street in Berlin. I've seen people wearing Bills gear in Sydney. 

 

If we can win a Super Bowl or two in this era we will unite all the 40somethings and over who remember Thurman, Jimbo, Bruce, Andre, Biscuit, etc., with younger people and be a legendary team... the wagons will be totally circled... let's get this DONE!

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

12 hours ago, Jrb1979 said:

Not surprised. The Sabres have high numbers when on national TV too. 

Only if they’re wearing the ‘50th anniversary’ jerseys.  Those are some sharp duds.  ?

[Gugny]

9 hours ago, skibum said:

Everyone loves an underdog, and a QB who does crazy stuff. 

 

Yes, indeed.  And winners.

 

It's all about winning.

 

If Josh's lateral somehow ends up in Knox's hands and Knox goes all the way for a winning TD, then it becomes a risky play by a gutsy QB with great situational awareness.

 

But instead, it's a stupid and unnecessary play (it really was), even though the Bills still tied the score on that drive ... before losing in OT.

 

It's all about winning.

[TPS]

12 hours ago, Michael1962 said:

I have not seen anyone address this, it is logical speculation.  At some point even the NFL will realize that the success and progression of the JA led Bills is in their financial self interest.  At that point the office/s on high would let the Officials know to protect JA and promote the Bills.  Or maybe it works some other way?  Wouldn't it be strange to see the Zebra calls/flags be in favor of the Bills as they seem to have been for Brady and other NFL money-makers?  I don't see this happening overnight but would not be surprised to see it over a several year period.  Any thoughts?  If my tech skills were better I would add a Rod Serling link, instead all I have is this:  https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2020/1/7/21051577/buffalo-bills-once-again-draw-huge-tv-ratings

I would think the way Bills Mafia travels and kicks up sales in other markets is another reason...?

[KW95 - JA17]

2 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

No one wants to root for a loser. Luckily we are on the up. No doubt we will have our work cut out in 2020 given our opponents. I think 9 or 10 wins, wins the AFC East. 

so who youve been rooting for the last 20 years???