Why did the NFL do away with Saturday games?

[Jump Zone]

Yea but in the past, recent past; the NFL always had games on Saturdays in weeks 15, 16, 17 when there are no scheduled NCAA games.

However, there now are college games scheduled during those weeks. Last Saturday there was Army-Navy, this weekend FCS playoff games, and bowl season begins. The expansion of the college season (12 game season versus 11; more bowls) made it easier for the NFL to move from late season Saturday games.

[KendrickPanther]

I liked Saturday games, but hell I would watch football everyday of the week until I was sick of it. The NFL fanbase is mostly made up of people that watch the games. That's it. Just watch the games. They aren't crazed lunatics like us. When they have plans on a Saturday to do something they aren't going to cancel over a football game. They aren't missing basketball games with their kids or Christmas shopping. Gotta get the house ready, Grandma is coming over for Christmas.

[jayflip]

I liked Saturday games, but hell I would watch football everyday of the week until I was sick of it. The NFL fanbase is mostly made up of people that watch the games. That's it. Just watch the games. They aren't crazed lunatics like us. When they have plans on a Saturday to do something they aren't going to cancel over a football game. They aren't missing basketball games with their kids or Christmas shopping. Gotta get the house ready, Grandma is coming over for Christmas.

fug. We are crazed lunatics, aren't we?

[FourthWard]

I'd be okay with a Saturday game for weeks 15 and 16.  However, for week 17, I would like to see every game kickoff at the same time probably 4 PM EST.  This would force teams to play to win more often and lead to some exciting finishes.  

[RoaringRiot]

I read an article on this a few years ago and it is all ratings.

 

Saturday afternoon is worse than Saturday night and Saturday night isn't good.

 

I loved the Saturday games 

 

 

Really?  Interesting.....I was assuming that when the playoff schedule came out that the most intriguing game would be put in the Saturday night slot.  Sounds like that's not the case....

[BIGH2001]

Remember the Saturday game we played against Dallas in 2005? I think it was Christmas Eve. We got royally fuged by the refs in a manner that I've almost never seen before.  Smith got ejected in the first half for bumping an official and then late in the game we got called for roughing the kicker on a game winning field goal that was tipped and missed by Dallas.  Because of the "roughing the kicker" on the tipped FG they got another chance and of course made it.

[Happy Panther]

Really?  Interesting.....I was assuming that when the playoff schedule came out that the most intriguing game would be put in the Saturday night slot.  Sounds like that's not the case....

 

Playoffs could be a different story not sure.

 

This guy has an opinion

 

http://deadspin.com/5716085/the-nfl-is-phasing-out-saturday-afternoon-football-because-they-hate-you

[tailg8or]

I love Saturday games, especially at night.  Tailg8 all day, stay at a hotel downtown and recover on Sunday.

 

Even thought the ratings may be lower for those particular games, I bet the same folks are still watching Sunday football .... just another game.

 

It must come down to advertising dollars.  Local businesses would love Saturday games.

[PghPanther]

Because the Jewish Sabbath is on Saturday???................

 

Oh well........I thought that just maybe..........

[TN05]

Remember the Saturday game we played against Dallas in 2005? I think it was Christmas Eve. We got royally fuged by the refs in a manner that I've almost never seen before.  Smith got ejected in the first half for bumping an official and then late in the game we got called for roughing the kicker on a game winning field goal that was tipped and missed by Dallas.  Because of the "roughing the kicker" on the tipped FG they got another chance and of course made it.

 

Yep, that was a game the refs screwed over. Julius Peppers blocked the kick before he hit the kicker and they still called him for roughing, and the Smith thing was ridiculous. If that game had ended like it should have we win the NFC South, and don't have to go on a three-game road streak to get to the SB.

[rg3and10]

Pundits say the Saturday games were replaced by a full Thursday schedule in order for the NFL to strong arm cable providers into paying television fees and carrying the NFL Network. With only a partial Saturday schedule and a few Thursday games, the NFL opted to put all its eggs in the Thursday Night Football basket, which would force the cable providers to cave. If it was only a handful of games on Saturday or Thursday, the NFL wouldn't have the leverage.

That isn't completely true.

Cable companies charge a premium for NFL Network. They may have initially paid a fee for it but they are raking in the money from it now.

Packages that add NFLN, Fox South, ESPNU, etc add about $5/month to your bill.

[TheGreatestOfAllTimeCam]

Rich Eisen tweeted that it will be returning on Saturdays late season in 2014!

 

@danwetzel - Remember when the NFL would play a couple Saturday games starting in mid-Dec? I wish they did that again.
@richeisen - @danwetzel It's coming Dan.
 

[tiger7_88]

I remember those days!

And then, in 1970, MONDAY Night Football!

WOWWWWWWW!!! What a revolutionary step forward that was!

A *second* NFL game... IN THE SAME WEEK!!! :lol:

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

Please no, Saturday NFL outside of the playoffs feel so out of place. Theres like, one saturday during football season without football anyway. CFB bowl season kicks off this saturday, theres your fix.