[C. Edmund Wright]

I think there are a number of things coming together here….and I think what you mentioned are on that list - along with other Freepers too.
Quick list of factors:
Economy and price of play off tix.
NFL’s pinking: catering to the anti bully lobby, the gay lobby, etc.
Very poor officiating over all this year.
Cold cold cold (global warming….ahem)
All the ways people can watch in warmth on various apps…even with black outs.

[BikerJoe]

I think there are a number of things coming together here….and I think what you mentioned are on that list - along with other Freepers too. Quick list of factors: Economy and price of play off tix. NFL’s pinking: catering to the anti bully lobby, the gay lobby, etc. Very poor officiating over all this year. Cold cold cold (global warming….ahem) All the ways people can watch in warmth on various apps…even with black outs.

I can add a little more...

In my area (Pittsburgh) we have TWO teams playing at Heinz field, the Stillers...and my alma mater, Pitt. We've gone to both games, and Pitt's use of the scoreboard and signboards is a heckuva lot more imaginative and creative than the homogenized NFL Steelers product. Overall, aside from the actual football game, the college game is a better "Entertainment experience", IMHO.

[old and tired]

All the ways people can watch in warmth on various apps…even with black outs.

I think the big screen TV deserves its own mention as a mitigating factor.