NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, in his annual state of the NFL news conference, announced a major development in the broadcasting of the NFL. Goodell stated:
"We're going to be playing Thursday night games from Week 2 to Week 12," Goodell said. "The market for NFL Network is here, and it's going to continue to grow."
That means that the NFL Network will be hosting thirteen Thursday Night Games a year, five more than they broadcasted last year, in weeks 10 through 16.
Goodell added that all 32 teams would be guaranteed at least one prime time game over the course of the 2012 season. With the Bengals on the rise and the Ravens and Steelers perhaps on the decline, it's perfect timing for the nation to witness the young, promising Bengals.
If you add in NBC's week season opener and the traditional three Thanksgiving games, that means a total of 17 Thursday Night Games in 2012. Add in the traditional Monday and Sunday night games, and it's possible that the Bengals may even have more than one primetime game this year.
Bengals fans haven't seen a primetime game with the Bengals since the they fell short in a heartbreaking loss against the New York Jets on Thanksgiving night in 2010.
This news also puts more pressure on major cable providers (e.g. Time Warner Cable) to start providing the NFL Network to their customers. This issue has been long and drawn out debacle, but Time Warner Cable has yet make a deal with the NFL Network.
Bengals fans should hope that corporate handshake is made soon, because Thursday Night Football is becoming a regular part of football fans' lives.
0 recs | 39 comments
America
Skinz - February 3, 2012
Ours will a Thursday night game on the NFL fu______g Network against the Bills in preseason
lol…
ticalcaldwell - February 3, 2012
We better get a Monday Night Football game when Carson comes back to town
Diesel2405 - February 3, 2012
screw that
Sunday night
That way there’s a great announcing team instead of a horrible one, you won’t need cable to see it, and it isn’t riddled with idiotic ESPN commercials.
indesignkat - February 3, 2012
+1
pemci - February 3, 2012
Would not be surprised
if it is Thursday week 2
txbengal29 - February 3, 2012
I didnt grow up watching Sunday Night Football.
I am a man sir and Monday Night Football is for me. Plus I don’t plan on sitting at home and watching it like a girl, I plan on being at the Monday Night Football game drunk as hell screaming my head off
Diesel2405 - February 3, 2012
EXACTLY!!
As a season ticket holder, and as a fan, Monday Night Football games hold a candle of their own.
whodeycommish14 - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Some of us don't live in the area... :)
pemci - February 3, 2012
In the words of grandma's boy
“Sucks to be you Nerd!”
Diesel2405 - February 3, 2012
Ha. " i guess im not high enough to get that". Great movie
njbengalstat - February 3, 2012
you're a man and I'm a girl, eh? That's pretty clever.
The simple fact is that the current MNF is a bad product. It was good, then it went to NBC. What’s on ESPN now bears no resemblance to what we grew up with.
indesignkat - February 3, 2012
I disagree completely
I love MNF…We just had some stinker games this year due to Peyton and other miscalculations by ESPN..I dont think they will take as many chances next year…
ticalcaldwell - February 3, 2012
It's not about just the quality of the games.
SNF, while new to the modern era of Football (how many remember the old SNF on TNN?) is simply a better overall product strictly by better games, better commentators, better production value. There’s a key reason SNF gets the FLEX schedule and that’s because NFL is aware of the better importance SNF has to the general fanbase. Any NFL player today under the age of 30, easily views SNF as “the big showcase” simply because of the gravitas it holds now. MNF doesn’t have that connection with the younger fans and players.
KSE - February 3, 2012
Speaking of national audiences
THOMAS HOWARD (I love that guy) was just on the Jim Rome radio show (Awesome interview). Talking about the Bengals being young and Awesome, how he loves Zim and is so glad to have him back and how we need to to resign Frostee and all of our own players
biggie22 - February 3, 2012
agree
Howard is badass. I was happy when we got him and he lived up to expectation.
Lawson, on the other hand, I thought was just ok.
indesignkat - February 3, 2012
Been preaching this...
Bring Frostee back… Not only is it a cool name but he was a beast this year, I know in the past he’s been banged up but you can see how good he is now with 16 full games a full season, sign him and be pleasantly surprised come next year when he outperforms Dunlap… Not a knock on Dunlap but I’m buying into the cool-aide that is Frostee
Toasted_Orange_Monster - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Thursday night games are bad news
I’m all for more football, but from what I can tell, Thursday night games hurt teams. I’ve heard coaches and players alike complain about them, especially in terms of the limited prep time. Also, injuries seem to be becoming more of a problem, so I think that a six-day rest between games should be the minimum.
Big Sky Bengal - February 3, 2012
Thursday sucks when you lose
ruins the rest of the football week, college and pro.
txbengal29 - February 3, 2012
I wonder if they will set it up so teams that play Thurs night would get
The previous week a 1pm Sunday game or the following week play Monday night
Toasted_Orange_Monster - February 3, 2012 via mobile
SUNDAY NIGHT!!!!!
Bengals Vs Raiders in Week 17
Touhue Cha - February 3, 2012
cant on week 17
Have to play someone from afcn
WhoDeyTim - February 3, 2012 via mobile
oh then week 16 im guessing
Touhue Cha - February 3, 2012
Not likely.
If the game gets any national tv spot (and it’s likely), it’ll be early in the season where both teams are likely to be relevant and chances are better Palmer is still the QB. Oakland/Cincy isn’t a sexy game unless Palmer is playing. Expect the game for week 1-3.
KSE - February 3, 2012
exactly
it will be very early to assure Carson is healthy…
txbengal29 - February 3, 2012
Good news on thurs nite days. I was hoping they would do that soon
njbengalstat - February 3, 2012
Dear Time Warner Cable
Stop being such a prick and get NFLN already.
EarthwormJim - February 3, 2012
F&@# time warner!
Bigcatdaddy - February 3, 2012 via Android app
+1000000000000000000
biggie22 - February 3, 2012
I know NFL network likes to do divisional matchups
So thursday night game against Browns,Steelers or Ravens. Sunday night game against Raiders,which is a no brainer. Also, since opening weekend there is 2 monday night games, Tebow and Broncos come in to start the season on MNF
EPK1979 - February 3, 2012 via mobile
I doubt we host one since we can't fill a stadium.
smoormandiddy - February 3, 2012
Stupidest thing I have read in awhile
Diesel2405 - February 3, 2012
It's not entirely a stupid belief.
NFL and TV networks don’t like empty stadiums, which is one of the reasons Cincy/Baltimore wasn’t given a bigger stage in Week 17 because CBS didn’t know if PBS would sell out. Fair or unfair, Cincy has a rep now for not selling out games. Obviously, that looks to change next season. However, given that Cincy has a loaded home schedule with national teams (Baltimore, Pitt, Denver, Palmer, Dallas, NYG…), chances are fairly good they’ll host at least one home prime time game.
KSE - February 3, 2012
Fair Is Egual
Allowing all Teams to play under the same conditions is Equal and Fair. Now all Teams will have to play a game each season under unfavorable circumstances. This Rule will ballance the Field! Now all Teams are in the same Boat! This Is about fair and equal!
Chili Dog - February 3, 2012
Wait a minute
I understood this…
Oregonbengalsfan - February 3, 2012
Right
Must be on the wagon today. Or could I be wrong? Wrong is the way to be. Be will sting you. Will you hurt from the sting? Lmao!
Bigcatdaddy - February 3, 2012 via Android app
LMAO
Oregonbengalsfan - February 3, 2012
One thing I don't get
Why would you want this man’s signature
messjunk - February 3, 2012
I was wondering the same thing!
Oregonbengalsfan - February 3, 2012
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