The @dallascowboys at @Eagles matchup on @SNFonNBC was the Most Tweeted Game of Week 10’s Thursday and Sunday action (per @TwitterSports)
1. @dallascowboys at @Eagles on Sunday night
2. @Panthers at @steelers on Thursday night
3. @Saints at @Bengals pic.twitter.com/fZpQlFSKvW— NFL345 (@NFL345) November 12, 2018
The NFL’s communications department (@NFL345) reports that last week’s most Tweeeted pro football game was the Cowboys – Eagles.
Perhaps this shouldn’t surprise us, given the mass popularity of these two clubs and because of their heralded rivalry. But then again, they’re hardly playing inspired football or look playoff worthy.
Maybe that’s the point. Conversation starters in sports needn’t be inspiring or even about feats of mediocrity, but rather, just plain timely. As the marquee Sunday game, this was at least that – well timed.
In the same vein, the Panthers – Steelers enjoyed timeliness on Thursday night, and certainly didn’t boast anything remotely newsy or topical. It was just there, one-sided and able to fill the airwaves.
What we can conclude then is that night games aren’t just fruitful for TV execs but for the social networks. In short, they help spotlight those that crave, well, a spotlight.
The quality of the product then, especially on Thursday night, is incidental really because the mere presence of a talking point is what counts most. The message is supplanted by the medium, so to speak.
Perhaps the league should try airing the second-string Cleveland Browns against the same guys who play basketball for the Washington Generals to really see how far they can stretch this thing.
