Game Report: Denver @ Pittsburgh

Game Date: Sun Dec 20, 2015

Teams: Denver Broncos @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Network: CBS

You’re reading what I hope will be one of many Game Reports in which I document my growth as a novice NFL TV fan.  You can check here if you’d like to learn more about my plans.

Pregame Thoughts

Here’s a chance to watch a game on Sunday afternoon and not have to think about work the next day — I’m on winter vacation!   It’s also likely to be the final game I watch before Christmas so I imagine it will be the last one that’s loaded with Christmas ads (although I’m sure there will be plenty hanging on afterwards, too, if the lingering ads of Black Friday are any indication).    Looks like Brock Osweiler will still be at QB for the Broncos.  Other than that, it will be a routine game for me.

Overall Response

Not much to say about this one.  Steelers won 34-27.

TV Razzle Dazzle

Osweiler/Manning comparison graphic.  Seems like they weren’t covering the play on Denver’s second TD.

Entertainment value

2/5.  An interception by Denver just before the 2 min warning in the 4th quarter.  Something might happen.

Commercial commentary

  • 113 separate commercials, Testosterone Factor 4.7/7.0.  Complete roster below.
  • Still lots of holiday ads on the final game before Christmas but declining.  Walmart isn’t a frequent advertiser on NFL games, but at the end of the holiday shopping season they had a spot during each quarter.
  • Quite a few ads with Star Wars tie-ins.
  • Several specific Super Bowl 50 plugs.  Every CBS football telecast has reminded us that they are “The Home Of SuperBowl 50,” but this is the first time I’ve noticed these short spots — no narrator, just a graphic of Superbowl 50 and the date of the game.

Interesting Extras

Lots of horseplay.  “Terrible towels” from Pittsburgh — reminded me of the Homer Hankies deployed by Minnesota Twins fans.  Some suspense in the 4th quarter with my Broncos down by 7.  Military woman got a house.

Here’s the commercial roster for the show.  I’ve sorted this one by category, but  you can also see which quarter the ads were telecast and in what order.  Remember, asterisks (*) mark commercials with a football theme (especially when the product advertised is NOT explicitly football-related).

Quarter Commercials:  Denver @ Pittsburgh, Dec 202015, CBS.  Total ads: 113 Category Ad Number Testosterone Factor (avg. 4.7/7.0)
1 Southwest Airline 2 4
3 Southwest Airline 68 4
1 United Airline 25 4
1 Acura Auto 19 6
1 Acura Auto 29 6
HT Audi Auto 55 4
3 Cadillac Auto 76 1
HT Dodge RAM (Star Wars) Auto 63 7
3 Dodge RAM (Star Wars) Auto 91 7
2 Ford F-150 Auto 37 7
1 Honda Auto 3 4
1 Honda Auto 7 7
1 Honda Auto 15 4
3 Hyundai Auto 81 7
2 Jaguar Auto 45 6
4 Nissan Auto 93 4
4 Nissan Rogue Auto 104 5
HT Toyota Auto 65 4
3 Toyota Auto 89 4
2 Bud Light Beer 47
2 Coors Light Beer 33 5
3 Coors Light Beer 83 4
3 Michelob Ultra Beer 73 4
4 Snickers Candy 108 4
1 National Car Rental Car Rental 24 7
1 Google Nexus Cellphone 28 4
1 iPhone Cellphone 18 4
4 Samsung Cellphone 109 4
1 Vivo Smart Garmin Computer 23 1
4 Amazon Prime Delivery 107 4
1 FedEx Delivery 12 4
4 FedEx Delivery 103 4
2 Macy’s Department Store 52 2
3 Mills Fleet Farm Discount Store 90 4
1 Walmart Xmas Day Discount Store 1 3
1 Walmart Xmas Day Discount Store 20 4
2 Walmart Xmas Day Discount Store 39 5
3 Walmart Xmas Day Discount Store 77 3
4 Walmart Xmas Day Discount Store 100 5
2 Bose Electronics 49
3 Bose Wilson* Electronics 78 7
3 chromecast audio Electronics 80 4
3 Quickbooks Electronics 85  4
2 Exxon Mobil Energy 36 2
1 American Express Financial 27 7
HT TD Ameritrade (Luck)* Financial 67 5
2 CBS Golden Season Football 53  7
1 Chargers/Raiders NFL Network Football 6 7
4 Chargers/Raiders NFL Network Football 95 6
2 Football Is Family Football 44 6
HT Football Is Family Football 60 7
1 NFL Monday QB Football 5 7
4 Sun Bowl Football 96 7
3 Sun Bowl, SB 50 Football 88 7
1 Superbowl 50 Football 14 7
HT Superbowl 50 Football 59 6
4 Superbowl 50 Football 106 7
HT Vikings Tickets Football 61 7
1 Home Depot Home Improvement 26 6
HT Menards (local) Home Improvement 64 7
HT Country Inns Hotel 56 4
2 New York Life Insurance 46 3
2 State Farm Insurance 51 7
4 State Farm Insurance 94 5
2 USAA Insurance 40 4
2 Jared Jewelry Jewelry 34 2
4 Jared Jewelry Jewelry 92 1
4 Kay Jewelers Jewelry 105 2
1 Zales Jewelry 11 2
3 Zales Jewelry 72 2
2 13 Hours Movie 32 7
3 Daddy’s Home Movie 71 5
1 Mission Impossible Movie 21 7
1 Ride Along 2 Movie 10 7
3 The Big Short Movie 86 5
4 Cialis Pharmaceuticals 99 7
3 Lyrica Pharmaceuticals 69 6
4 Tamiflu Pharmaceuticals 101 5
1 McDonald’s Restaurants 13 4
4 McDonald’s Restaurants 110 4
3 Papa Johns Restaurants 84 7
2 Pizza Hut Restaurants 38 4
1 Wendy’s Restaurants 8 4
2 Wendy’s Restaurants 43 4
4 Wendy’s Restaurants 97 3
2 Pepsi Soft Drink 42 6
HT bleacher report Sports 62 7
1 Amazon Fire TV Streaming TV 17 2
4 60 Minutes TV Show 112 4
3 Angel From Hell TV Show 79 3
4 Late Show TV Show 113 4
HT Life In Pieces TV Show 66 4
2 Limitless TV Show 35 5
2 Lucy Special in Color TV Show 50
3 Mike and Molly TV Show 70 3
1 People’s Choice Awards TV Show 30 3
3 The Late Show TV Show 87 4
1 Undercover Boss TV Show 22 4
4 Undercover Boss TV Show 102 6
HT WCCO (Local) TV Show 58 4
2 Fruit of the Loom Underwear 48
HT Carmax Used cars 54 4
4 Call of Duty Video Game 111 7
3 PS4 Star Wars Video Game 82 7
2 Citizen Watches 41 4
3 Citizen Watches 75 2
4 AT&T Direct TV Wireless 98 5
1 Straight Talk Wireless 9 5
HT T-Mobile Wireless 57 4
1 Verizon Wireless 4 4
1 Verizon Wireless 16 4
1 Verizon Wireless 31 4
3 Verizon Wireless 74 4

This article was posted on Jan 7, 2016 but dated earlier so that it would appear in the index closer to the date the game was played.