NFL is back and this will please many people. After all, football just happens to be the most popular sport in the United States. It is arguably one of the most popular and profitable sports in the world. Well, the season kicked off last night with a Hall of Fame game between the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons. It was a back and forth battle that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. They will want to see more games just like it in the future. Below, you’re going to learn all about the game and the most notable happenings from it.
Pass Interference Challenge Flag
Over the years, the NFL has changed a lot. Several new rules have been added to the league. A few new ones were added for this season. It is unknown right now whether these new rules will be good or bag. One of the most interesting is the pass interference challenge flag. It didn’t take long before fans got a chance to see how things work. Well, this flag was thrown during yesterday’s Hall of Fame game.
Many will agree that this challenge is risky. It is riskier than taking a no deposit bonus and risking your money at an online casino. Nevertheless, many coaches will attempt to use it to their advantage. Near the end of the second quarter, Broncos defensive back Linden Stephens was flagged for pass interference. The coach just wasn’t seeing it. The coach decided to challenge the call.
While it was a good decision, the refs didn’t agree. They decided to uphold the original ruling. While it was pretty uneventful this time, there is a good chance that this could make things interesting in the future. And, you know that coaches are going to be eager to experiment with the challenge flag. It will likely be used a lot during the preseason.
Vic Fangio Made It
Originally, it was unknown if Vic would actually make it to the Hall of Fame game. The coach was ready to kick things off but he had a few problems behind the scenes. After team meetings had concluded, he was rushed to the hospital due to a kidney stone. Nevertheless, the coach wasn’t going to let that stop him. He admitted, “I didn’t know if I would make it.” The coach powered through and his team did the same. He made it to the game and the Denver Broncos managed to rally late to win the game.
A 15-yard touchdown pass to Juwann Winfree gave the Broncos the win over the Falcons. The game ended with a final score of 14 to 10. Again, it was very competitive. Just remember that it was just an exhibition game too. This means that it will have no real meaning for the upcoming reason. Nevertheless, it is great for fans to get another chance to watch their favorites out there on the field.
Poor Ratings
The Hall of Fame game was very exciting. Sadly, a lot of people just weren’t interested. According to the television ratings, people didn’t tune in. The game managed to draw a 4.1 household rating. On its own, that would be very impressive. However, it pales in comparison to last season’s game which managed to draw 4.8. The ratings are down by as much as 15% and that could be a sign of things to come. After all, the NFL has gone through several controversies in recent years and the ratings have continued to shrink.
Some believe that this will not have an impact on the rest of the season. It is only a matter of time before people find out.
What Is Next?
It is only a month or so before the regular NFL season gets started. Things will kick off on September the 5th with a game between the Bears and the Packers. So far, several teams have already managed to claim spots at the top of the rankings. The New Orleans Saints are picked to be the best team in the league. The New England Patriots are currently ranked second. Both teams are trailed by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams. Of course, it is true that anything can happen when the ball hits the field.
