“it’s worth noting that this weekend’s games featured matchups that might not have grabbed the casual fan at first glance. Even if Vikings-Saints was the greatest game ever (and it was pretty damn good), it wasn’t going to beat last year’s Cowboys-Packers showdown. Falcons-Eagles was likewise less appealing than last year’s Falcons-Seahawks matchup. Some franchises and players are simply more appealing to the average American than others. When the Cowboys miss the playoffs but the Jaguars make it, or when Aaron Rodgers stays home but Case Keenum doesn’t, or when Carson Wentz gets hurt and leaves us with Nick Foles, ratings are going to suffer a bit. That may not account for the entire drop, but it certainly explains some of it.”
If it’s Minnesota-Jacksonville in the Super Bowl, it’s going to be a disaster for local vendors. Of all the teams in the NFL, Jacksonville would probably be the team that would have the least amount of fans going to Minneapolis for the game. And of course Vikings fans won’t have to travel and stay in the hotels.