Game Date: Sunday, October 4 2015
Teams: Minnesota Vikings @ Denver Broncos
Network: FOX
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.
I figured this game would be interesting and man, was it ever. It’s my fourth Broncos game but the first playing at their home against the pro team from my home state — Minnesota Vikings. I was rooting for Denver, but if Minnesota had prevailed, I know it would have made a lot of my friends happy. It was also my first telecast on the FOX network, and while I didn’t imagine there would be anything remarkable about the coverage on the field, I looked forward to seeing some new commercials (especially for upcoming FOX TV shows). These factors combined to make this the most entertaining and engaging show I’ve seen since starting this project. Emotional high point? — the fantastic Broncos run touchdown by Hillman — I absolutely leaped out of my chair and jumped up and down. It was also fun watching Bridgewater get sacked. And sacked. And sacked. And remember — I have nothing against the Vikings, but since I’m a Broncos fan I’ve gotta do what I gotta do. I’m sure Vikings fans were excited when AP made that astonishing run for a TD … but it wasn’t enough to change the results for my Broncos.
TV Razzle Dazzle
Cool animated graphics for stats, etc — kind of a paint roller effect. Seems like more crowd noise in the audio mix. Great closeups of player faces; it seemed that FOX was capturing a little more of the human drama out there, the reactions of the players, etc. I spotted “3 Things” in the screen scroll — mildly interesting updates of developments across the league. While one FOX broadcast isn’t enough to make any generalizations, I can state confidently that the coverage was excellent.
Entertainment value
5/5. Got my attention in the first quarter when my Broncos sacked QB Bridgewater twice in a row. Blair Walsh missed the field goal. Adrian Peterson runs 48 yards for a Vikings TD! OMG. Really enjoyable show with superb TV team coverage.
Commercial commentary
I’m noticing more Ford commercials here on FOX, otherwise typical mix of male-oriented commercials. Lots of auto/truck ads, Fantasy Football, and upcoming FOX TV shows but also an impressive showing for fast food restaurants and takeout pizza joints. Quite a lot more ads for Ford products (6 separate ones today — and I’ve only seen four total in the previous several games I’ve watched). Today’s total commercial count — a modest 109 separate commercials with an average T-rating of 5.21/7.0.
Interesting Extras
Very little extra coverage. One tiny cut to a shot of the Rocky Mountains. Compared to CBS and NBC coverage, it seemed like FOX focused mainly on what was happening on the field (with the obligatory stats, etc., from other games). This isn’t necessarily a criticism; while I do enjoy the background information and “human interest” items, they can seem like filler.
So much to learn
Shotgun? Pistol? I don’t get all these descriptions of QB choices.
Points to Ponder
Is it mandatory for networks to have a female commentator on the sidelines? It seems like every network has a female commentator working the sidelines, interviewing players, etc. Not that I object to female commentators, but I haven’t noticed any females in the Big Chairs talking about the game. Also — what about all those Vikings fans in the stands — who are these Minnesota people who can be in Denver on a Sunday afternoon? Don’t they have to go to work on Monday?
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: Minnesota at Denver, Oct 4 2015, FOX. Total: 109 | Category | Ad Number | Testosterone Factor (avg. 5.21/7.00) | |
| 1 | Southwest | Airline | 1 | 4 | |
| 3 | Southwest | Airline | 69 | 3 | |
| 4 | United | Airline | 104 | 2 | |
| HT | Chevrolet | Auto | 55 | 5 | |
| 3 | Chevrolet | Auto | 70 | 4 | |
| 3 | Chevrolet | Auto | 86 | 5 | |
| 3 | Chevrolet Equinox | Auto | 77 | 2 | |
| 2 | Chrysler | Auto | 33 | 5 | |
| 2 | Dodge RAM | Auto | 22 | 7 | |
| 2 | Dodge Ram | Auto | 29 | 7 | |
| HT | Dodge RAM | Auto | 64 | 7 | |
| HT | Ford | Auto | 51 | 6 | |
| 1 | Ford – | auto | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 | Ford 150 | Auto | 12 | 7 | |
| 1 | Ford Explorer | Auto | 8 | 4 | |
| 4 | Ford Fusion | Auto | 109 | 4 | |
| 1 | Ford Mustang | Auto | 2 | 4 | |
| 1 | Ford SUV | Auto | 19 | 6 | |
| HT | Honda Civic | Auto | 66 | 6 | |
| 4 | Hyundai | Auto | 91 | 6 | |
| 2 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | Auto | 25 | 4 | |
| 3 | Koch | Auto | 85 | 7 | |
| 4 | Nissan | Auto | 95 | 7 | |
| 4 | Nissan | Auto | 97 | 7 | |
| 4 | Nissan Maxima | Auto | 105 | 6 | |
| 3 | Toyota w/Jan | Auto | 87 | 3 | |
| 1 | Bud Light | Beer | 6 | 7 | |
| 3 | Bud Light | Beer | 75 | 7 | |
| 2 | Budweiser | Beer | 32 | 7 | |
| 3 | Coors | Beer | 82 | 7 | |
| 1 | Corona Extra | Beer | 18 | 3 | |
| 4 | Corona Extra | Beer | 106 | 4 | |
| 2 | Direct TV/ATT | Cable TV | 44 | 4 | |
| HT | CarSoup.com | cars | 67 | 5 | |
| 1 | Cricket Wireless | Cellphone | 14 | 4 | |
| 2 | iPhone S | Cellphone | 45 | 4 | |
| 2 | Samsung | Cellphone | 26 | 3 | |
| 4 | Samsung | Cellphone | 89 | 3 | |
| 3 | Verizon (Watt)* | Cellphone | 79 | 6 | |
| 2 | Verizon/iPhone | Cellphone | 41 | 2 | |
| 2 | Microsoft Cloud | Computer | 36 | 6 | |
| 4 | Microsoft Windows 10 | Computer | 101 | 1 | |
| 1 | Draft Kings | Fantasy Football | 4 | 6 | |
| 2 | Draft Kings | Fantasy Football | 24 | 7 | |
| 2 | Draft Kings | Fantasy Football | 38 | 6 | |
| 2 | FanDuel | Fantasy Football | 28 | 7 | |
| 3 | Koch | Fibers | 88 | 3 | |
| HT | Associated Bank | Financial | 54 | 4 | |
| 2 | Bankamericard VISA | Financial | 43 | 4 | |
| 1 | Small Business Revolution | Financial | 21 | 4 | |
| 2 | TD Ameritrade (Luck)* | Financial | 23 | 5 | |
| HT | VISA Checkout | Financial | 49 | 7 | |
| 4 | fitbit | Fitness | 93 | 7 | |
| 4 | Connor/Eagles: Football if Family* | Football | 103 | 7 | |
| HT | Football Is Family Breast Cancer | Football | 58 | 1 | |
| HT | Fox 9 (Local) | Football | 59 | 5 | |
| 3 | Hyundai | Football | 80 | 6 | |
| 2 | NFL Ticket Exchange | Football | 48 | 7 | |
| 1 | Vikings Tickets | Football | 5 | 7 | |
| HT | Vikings Tickets | Football | 68 | 7 | |
| 4 | Lowe’s | Home Improvement | 108 | 7 | |
| HT | Mills Fleet Farm | Home Improvement | 53 | 1 | |
| 1 | American Family | Insurance | 20 | 6 | |
| HT | American Family Crystal | Insurance | 63 | 3 | |
| 4 | Geico | Insurance | 94 | 6 | |
| 1 | Nationwide (Manning)* | Insurance | 15 | 7 | |
| 1 | State Farm | Insurance | 9 | 6 | |
| 3 | State Farm Elvis | Insurance | 72 | 6 | |
| 1 | Crimson Peak | Movie | 10 | 5 | |
| 4 | He Named Me Malala | Movie | 92 | 2 | |
| 2 | Last Witch Hunter | Movie | 31 | 6 | |
| 4 | Pan | Movie | 100 | 6 | |
| 4 | Steve Jobs | Movie | 107 | 5 | |
| HT | Fox 9 (Local) | News | 60 | 4 | |
| HT | Fox 9 (Local) | News | 61 | 2 | |
| 2 | Head and Shoulders Shampoo* | Personal Hygiene | 47 | 7 | |
| 3 | Cialis | Pharmaceuticals | 73 | 7 | |
| 1 | Burger King Halloween | Restaurants | 13 | 7 | |
| 2 | Burger King Halloween | Restaurants | 27 | 7 | |
| 3 | Burger King Halloween | Restaurants | 74 | 7 | |
| 4 | Burger King Halloween | Restaurants | 102 | 7 | |
| 4 | Dominos | Restaurants | 98 | 4 | |
| 2 | KFC | Restaurants | 35 | 6 | |
| HT | McDonalds | Restaurants | 65 | 6 | |
| 4 | Mcdonalds Breakfast | Restaurants | 90 | 4 | |
| 1 | McDonald’s Breakfast | Restaurants | 17 | 4 | |
| 1 | Outback | Restaurants | 7 | 6 | |
| 2 | Papa Johns (Manning)* | Restaurants | 42 | 7 | |
| 2 | Papa Johns (Manning)* | Restaurants | 46 | 7 | |
| HT | Papa Murphys | Restaurants | 52 | 2 | |
| 3 | Pizza Hut | Restaurants | 71 | 4 | |
| 2 | Pizza Hut | Restaurants | 40 | 4 | |
| 2 | Pizza Hut/VISA Checkout | Restaurants | 39 | 7 | |
| 3 | Direct TV | Satellite TV | 81 | 6 | |
| HT | FS1 | Sports | 50 | 6 | |
| 3 | FS1 | Sports | 76 | 7 | |
| 4 | FS1 | Sports | 99 | 5 | |
| 2 | Soccer on FOX | Sports | 30 | 6 | |
| HT | American Horror Story | TV Show | 57 | 5 | |
| 3 | American Horror Story | TV Show | 83 | 5 | |
| 3 | Empire | TV Show | 84 | 6 | |
| 1 | Grandfathered | TV Show | 11 | 4 | |
| 2 | Grandfathered/Grinder | TV Show | 34 | 6 | |
| 4 | Grinder | TV Show | 96 | 7 | |
| HT | Last Man On Earth | TV Show | 62 | 6 | |
| 2 | Rosewood/Empire | TV Show | 37 | 4 | |
| HT | Simpsons, more | TV Show | 56 | 5 | |
| 1 | FS1 | Video Game | 16 | 7 | |
| 3 | PS4/Taco Bell | Video Game | 78 | 6 | |