All Technology + All Games = All Fun

Many people treasure childhood memories of crowding around an old console TV to watch the NFL. They cheered, they booed, and the probably threw a little popcorn--all in spite of a tiny screen, tinny sound, and a picture that sometimes made faces indistinguishable. And while there were legendary voices like Gifford and Cosell describing the action in memorable detail, there was a real shortage of in-depth statistics and player information.

 

Welcome to 2015. Watching the game has changed even more than the game itself. And as a devoted fan of any team from any time zone, you can see them play every single game with astonishing picture and sound to accompany an overwhelming level of information about the who, what, where, when, and why of the action on the field. And should life have you on the move somewhere between the kickoff and the final knee taken, you can stay as connected as ever to the action.

Seeing--And Hearing--Is Believing

Great memories notwithstanding, let's face it. The picture was not that great in your childhood. Mean Joe Greene could have shared that Coke with the kid in the tunnel, showered, and come to your house for dinner, and you probably wouldn't have recognized him. If he did that today, you'd not only recognize him, you'd know he had exfoliated in the locker room.

Not that Mean Joe Greene ever exfoliated. The point is that today's televisions have advanced so far that the level of detail is astonishing. You notice that on every challenge call; you have a better view of whether the ball broke the plane than the reply official.

The sound is amazing as well. Sideline microphones are catching dialogue and sounds that don't just make noise but actually add to the viewing experience. There would have never been a story about Peyton Manning and "Omaha!" in 1983.

Crunching Pretzels...And Numbers

It's do or die time. Your team is on the 3-yard line on 4th down, 11 seconds left and down 4 points. During the inevitable timeout, you have to wonder: How do we do in these situations?

Don't worry. They'll tell you. You will get a graphic of 4th down goal-to-go success rates with 5 yards or less to gain. And if they're good, your heart might settle down a little. If not, just clench that remote a little tighter.

The number of statistics available today is quite a statistic itself. Stats companies generate mountains of data that can be quickly accessed online, driving timely information onto your screen during critical moments. Hester has never returned for a touchdown with first contact by his own 15. Brady's completion rate is under 30% to rookie tight ends. You name it, they'll tell it.

Will Our Game Be on TV? Oh Yeah. It Will.

Wipe away 24-hour sports networks and imagine a game day where you had a grand total of two games to watch, and you were given those that most applied to your broadcasting market, not to your personal preferences. If your team wasn't from your town or playing in your town, you probably didn't see their game.

That's a thing of the past. With additional satellite networks and deals from Direct TV NFL SundayTicket, you do not have to miss a game, ever. This is especially gratifying for the homesick Packers fan whose career led to Arizona or Oregon. Local markets are now a moot point for football. If you have a TV, you have the game.

And if you don't have a TV--let's say you're traveling or stranded at the mall--you can still follow your games via mobile device and stay right up to the minute on the action. Just find that "guest wi-fi" on your available networks and settle in.

Overpriced beer and frigid weather aside, there's no substitute for seeing a game at the stadium. But if you can't breathe in Lambeau in person, your sofa has never been a better substitute.