Game Date:  Sunday, September 13, 2015

Teams:  Denver Broncos

Network:  CBS

I noticed that the set for the NFL Today commentators looked a little like that of my favorite TV show, CBS This Morning.  It had the same sort of weathered-brick warehouse look to it — very attractive.  Camera work throughout the show was spectacular as always.  I noticed some shakiness on some of the long-range closeups of players, coaches, and execs up in the booth.  There was one unfortunate (and I presume unintentional) shot of Peyton Manning spitting and creating a long drool trail.  CBS has incorporated a graphic screen logo declaring “Home of Superbowl 50” in gold.  Here we go.

3/5  The show held my interest and I even got a little excited when Talib intercepted a Ravens pass.  Later in the fourth quarter I had mixed emotions when Denver was up by six but Baltimore had the ball.  My interest rose and I hoped like heck that the Ravens wouldn’t tie it up — mainly because that would mean overtime and a delay of 60 Minutes which was already scheduled 30 minutes later than normal because of the game.  It all turned out well — my Broncos won, no overtime was required, and 60 Minutes started as scheduled.  Sadly, 60 Minutes was a rerun, but at least one of the three episodes was one I hadn’t seen.  60 Minutes is almost as old as I am, and every installment opens with a preview of the show ending with “All that … tonight on 60 Minutes;”   I still fill in that pause after “all that” with “and Andy Rooney.”  Sigh.

There were 109 separate commercials between the opening credits and the end of the game (they had to fill abou .  Biggest category was TV shows — mainly upcoming premiere episodes of CBS programs.  Runner-up category was A between the opening credits and the end of the game.  The largest category of ads was TV Shows (mainly upcoming premieres of CBS prime-time offerings).  Runnerup category was Auto/Truck commercials with 23.  The full roster is at the bottom of this post.  Quite a lot of audio promotions from the commentators slipped in whenever there was a break in the action — more promos for upcoming CBS programs but also shout-outs to other sponsors including Esurance and Geico.

CBS mentioned that the show was also available in Spanish on the SAP (although they announced that in English).  A line judge was injured with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter, so the commentators had to tread water and review rules about how the game would continue with with one fewer official.  Nice round of applause for the official when he got up and left the field (turns out he had a broken collarbone).  Audio promo for “50th Edition of the Superbowl.”  I was pleased they called it an Edition and not an anniversary (it’s kind of a pet peeve of mine to misuse the term anniversary).   They also had some mini-features they were able to spin up, seemingly on the spur of the moment.  One was called Superbowl Memories — about a 10 sec clip featuring John Elway.  Also a short clip about a player who had a football camp in Germany — didn’t notice who that was.  They also focused a little on Maxx Williams (Ravens) who is from my home — I had a brief pang that I was cheering for Denver but I worked through it.

So much to learn

Blitz.  Red zone snap.