The San Diego Chargers were down 10-17 to the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon as they were driving with less than a minute left. They got inside the ten with 18 seconds left, and my eyes were glued to the TV.
Before I go any further, let me make one thing clear: Titans-Chargers was not actually the featured game for CBS' Midwestern region including Cleveland, where I was watching, and wherever else they divided up the Midwest into for this week. Packers-Raiders was the featured game. The Packers won 38-7. But, I don't blame the CBS for broadcasting that yawn-inducing bloodbath; the Packers were pretty bad last year, so it could have easily been a yawn-inducing joke.
Luckily, FOX had a good matchup between the Lions and Cowboys that came down to the Boys' final possession. But CBS was showing bonus coverage of the Titans-Chargers game, and bonus coverage is sometimes the only good thing about NFL Sundays.
So, it was Chargers ball inside the 10, down by 7, with 18 seconds left and third down. Then a voice came on as play continued. The voice began speaking slowly, but I could tell what was going to happen, I just hoped the voice would last long enough.
"Due to NFL contractual obligations..." Philip Rivers calls the signals.
"We will not be able to bring you..." He takes the snap.
"The remainder of the game." He tosses a pass toward the end zone.
Will it be caught? Will the Chargers take it to overtime? Will they win?
I didn't see because they switched to the Browns-Jets game. Far be it for CBS to restrict the Browns fans' rights to see the coin toss or the opening kickoff. The first 18 seconds of a local game are definitely more important than the last 18 seconds of a one-possession game. Forget about overtime, it would have been enough just to see the Chargers tie it. (They ended up winning in overtime.)
Article comments
1 - Alexandria
I have to say I agree with you. Why can't we choose the game we want to watch rather than regional coverage? And, when a game is 34-2 at the beginning of the 4th quarter, why can't we switch to a better game? I have the NFL channel so I get the Thursday night games but I feel bad for people who can't. And, if I have "the NFL channel" then why can't I see the other games on Sunday? I'm so tired of being caught in the middle of the money-obsessed entertainment industry. I want to watch football, and not just any game, a game inwhich I'm invested (finacially or emotionally) and I'm interested in watching close games rather than slaughters. That's what is fun for me. The game.
I share your rage! Thanks for listening.
2 - Kevin
In Colorado, we also got cut off at the same point of the Titans-Chargers game--mid touchdown throw. The cut to: commercials before the Denver-K.C. game. No warning at all. And it was a game broadcast from the beginning (not bonus coverage).
My favorite part was Dan Dierdorf raving during the 3rd quarter of the Titans-Chargers game how you would have to be 'crazy' to not watch the Steelers-Patriots game. I must be crazy, because I couldn't find it on my TV!
3 - Glen
Here in Reno we saw the the TD but then not the Overtime as the kickoff was more important at the Pitt/NE game.I'm fortunate I have a Casino 2 blocks away where I can see any game without NFL Sundat ticket but it would be nice if the NetWorks would consider our input before they make those Contractual Obs.,cause I'd like to watch football from my stadium seat or my couch.