NFL Week 8 -- Primetime blues

For some reason the NFL believes the Las Vegas Raiders are a significant draw? Three primetime games in eight weeks for a decidedly mediocre team. I don't get it. Also, Sunday night might be a good night to catch up on that series you've been wanting to binge.

Thursday night
Tampa Bay at Buffalo (-8.5/42), 815, PRIME

Sunday early
Philadelphia (-6.5/43.5) at Washington, FOX
L.A. Rams at Dallas (-6.5/45.5), FOX
Minnesota at Green Bay (PK, 43), FOX
Atlanta (-2/36.5) at Tennessee, CBS
New Orleans at Indianapolis (-1/43.5), FOX
New England at Miami (-9.5/47), CBS
N.Y. Jets (-3/36.5) at N.Y. Giants, CBS
Jacksonville (-2.5/42) at Pittsburgh, CBS
Houston (-3/43) at Carolina, FOX

Sunday late
Cleveland at Seattle (-3/40), FOX
Kansas City (-8/46) at Denver, CBS
Baltimore (-8.5/44) at Arizona, CBS
Cincinnati at San Francisco (-5.5/45.5), CBS

Sunday night
Chicago at L.A. Chargers (-8.5/46.5), NBC

Monday night
Las Vegas at Detroit (-8/45), ABC/ESPN

 

The NFL has done such a better job of filling the late Sunday slot this year.

I think all but one week has had 4 games

 

The Raiders, sadly, have a national following. That's why they're getting prime spots.

 

The Lions minus 8 seems a little heavy. Didn't they watch the game Sunday?

I'd be thinking something more in the range of about 5.

 

The Raiders got their doors blown off by a Division II QB who looks like a meth head. Minus-8 might not be generous enough.

Also, it's easy to laugh at the NFL for being so arrogant and not giving a fuck about their product, but they're putting the Bears AND Raiders in prime time a week after that debacle and both games will be among the most-watched events of the week. Why should they give a fuck about their product?

 

The Rams engaged in some addition by subtraction today, cutting kicker Brett Maher. He missed two field goals and an extra point in a game they lost by seven to the Steelers. His last field goal attempt wasn't even close.

 

Still, even if you don't take this year's performances in account - and assume CBS protected Cincy at SF and Fox Rams at Dallas - Jax=Pitt, Jets-Giants, and KC-Denver seemed to have more sizzle than Vegas-Detroit and Bears-Chargers (though maybe they are pushing the intraconference games in primetime)

 

I'm old enough to remember when there was no Sunday night game on the opening weekend of the World Series. Now baseball has Sunday as a travel day.

 

I'm old enough to remember when there was no Sunday night game.

 

I'm also old enough to remember when there were no World Series night games.

 

I vividly remember the first one. I was in college.