Game Date: Sun Dec 20, 2015
Teams: Denver Broncos @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Network: CBS
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.
Pregame Thoughts
Here’s a chance to watch a game on Sunday afternoon and not have to think about work the next day — I’m on winter vacation! It’s also likely to be the final game I watch before Christmas so I imagine it will be the last one that’s loaded with Christmas ads (although I’m sure there will be plenty hanging on afterwards, too, if the lingering ads of Black Friday are any indication). Looks like Brock Osweiler will still be at QB for the Broncos. Other than that, it will be a routine game for me.
Overall Response
Not much to say about this one. Steelers won 34-27.
TV Razzle Dazzle
Osweiler/Manning comparison graphic. Seems like they weren’t covering the play on Denver’s second TD.
Entertainment value
2/5. An interception by Denver just before the 2 min warning in the 4th quarter. Something might happen.
Commercial commentary
- 113 separate commercials, Testosterone Factor 4.7/7.0. Complete roster below.
- Still lots of holiday ads on the final game before Christmas but declining. Walmart isn’t a frequent advertiser on NFL games, but at the end of the holiday shopping season they had a spot during each quarter.
- Quite a few ads with Star Wars tie-ins.
- Several specific Super Bowl 50 plugs. Every CBS football telecast has reminded us that they are “The Home Of SuperBowl 50,” but this is the first time I’ve noticed these short spots — no narrator, just a graphic of Superbowl 50 and the date of the game.
Interesting Extras
Lots of horseplay. “Terrible towels” from Pittsburgh — reminded me of the Homer Hankies deployed by Minnesota Twins fans. Some suspense in the 4th quarter with my Broncos down by 7. Military woman got a house.
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: Denver @ Pittsburgh, Dec 202015, CBS. Total ads: 113 | Category | Ad Number | Testosterone Factor (avg. 4.7/7.0) |
| 1 | Southwest | Airline | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Southwest | Airline | 68 | 4 |
| 1 | United | Airline | 25 | 4 |
| 1 | Acura | Auto | 19 | 6 |
| 1 | Acura | Auto | 29 | 6 |
| HT | Audi | Auto | 55 | 4 |
| 3 | Cadillac | Auto | 76 | 1 |
| HT | Dodge RAM (Star Wars) | Auto | 63 | 7 |
| 3 | Dodge RAM (Star Wars) | Auto | 91 | 7 |
| 2 | Ford F-150 | Auto | 37 | 7 |
| 1 | Honda | Auto | 3 | 4 |
| 1 | Honda | Auto | 7 | 7 |
| 1 | Honda | Auto | 15 | 4 |
| 3 | Hyundai | Auto | 81 | 7 |
| 2 | Jaguar | Auto | 45 | 6 |
| 4 | Nissan | Auto | 93 | 4 |
| 4 | Nissan Rogue | Auto | 104 | 5 |
| HT | Toyota | Auto | 65 | 4 |
| 3 | Toyota | Auto | 89 | 4 |
| 2 | Bud Light | Beer | 47 | |
| 2 | Coors Light | Beer | 33 | 5 |
| 3 | Coors Light | Beer | 83 | 4 |
| 3 | Michelob Ultra | Beer | 73 | 4 |
| 4 | Snickers | Candy | 108 | 4 |
| 1 | National Car Rental | Car Rental | 24 | 7 |
| 1 | Google Nexus | Cellphone | 28 | 4 |
| 1 | iPhone | Cellphone | 18 | 4 |
| 4 | Samsung | Cellphone | 109 | 4 |
| 1 | Vivo Smart Garmin | Computer | 23 | 1 |
| 4 | Amazon Prime | Delivery | 107 | 4 |
| 1 | FedEx | Delivery | 12 | 4 |
| 4 | FedEx | Delivery | 103 | 4 |
| 2 | Macy’s | Department Store | 52 | 2 |
| 3 | Mills Fleet Farm | Discount Store | 90 | 4 |
| 1 | Walmart Xmas Day | Discount Store | 1 | 3 |
| 1 | Walmart Xmas Day | Discount Store | 20 | 4 |
| 2 | Walmart Xmas Day | Discount Store | 39 | 5 |
| 3 | Walmart Xmas Day | Discount Store | 77 | 3 |
| 4 | Walmart Xmas Day | Discount Store | 100 | 5 |
| 2 | Bose | Electronics | 49 | |
| 3 | Bose Wilson* | Electronics | 78 | 7 |
| 3 | chromecast audio | Electronics | 80 | 4 |
| 3 | Quickbooks | Electronics | 85 | 4 |
| 2 | Exxon Mobil | Energy | 36 | 2 |
| 1 | American Express | Financial | 27 | 7 |
| HT | TD Ameritrade (Luck)* | Financial | 67 | 5 |
| 2 | CBS Golden Season | Football | 53 | 7 |
| 1 | Chargers/Raiders NFL Network | Football | 6 | 7 |
| 4 | Chargers/Raiders NFL Network | Football | 95 | 6 |
| 2 | Football Is Family | Football | 44 | 6 |
| HT | Football Is Family | Football | 60 | 7 |
| 1 | NFL Monday QB | Football | 5 | 7 |
| 4 | Sun Bowl | Football | 96 | 7 |
| 3 | Sun Bowl, SB 50 | Football | 88 | 7 |
| 1 | Superbowl 50 | Football | 14 | 7 |
| HT | Superbowl 50 | Football | 59 | 6 |
| 4 | Superbowl 50 | Football | 106 | 7 |
| HT | Vikings Tickets | Football | 61 | 7 |
| 1 | Home Depot | Home Improvement | 26 | 6 |
| HT | Menards (local) | Home Improvement | 64 | 7 |
| HT | Country Inns | Hotel | 56 | 4 |
| 2 | New York Life | Insurance | 46 | 3 |
| 2 | State Farm | Insurance | 51 | 7 |
| 4 | State Farm | Insurance | 94 | 5 |
| 2 | USAA | Insurance | 40 | 4 |
| 2 | Jared Jewelry | Jewelry | 34 | 2 |
| 4 | Jared Jewelry | Jewelry | 92 | 1 |
| 4 | Kay Jewelers | Jewelry | 105 | 2 |
| 1 | Zales | Jewelry | 11 | 2 |
| 3 | Zales | Jewelry | 72 | 2 |
| 2 | 13 Hours | Movie | 32 | 7 |
| 3 | Daddy’s Home | Movie | 71 | 5 |
| 1 | Mission Impossible | Movie | 21 | 7 |
| 1 | Ride Along 2 | Movie | 10 | 7 |
| 3 | The Big Short | Movie | 86 | 5 |
| 4 | Cialis | Pharmaceuticals | 99 | 7 |
| 3 | Lyrica | Pharmaceuticals | 69 | 6 |
| 4 | Tamiflu | Pharmaceuticals | 101 | 5 |
| 1 | McDonald’s | Restaurants | 13 | 4 |
| 4 | McDonald’s | Restaurants | 110 | 4 |
| 3 | Papa Johns | Restaurants | 84 | 7 |
| 2 | Pizza Hut | Restaurants | 38 | 4 |
| 1 | Wendy’s | Restaurants | 8 | 4 |
| 2 | Wendy’s | Restaurants | 43 | 4 |
| 4 | Wendy’s | Restaurants | 97 | 3 |
| 2 | Pepsi | Soft Drink | 42 | 6 |
| HT | bleacher report | Sports | 62 | 7 |
| 1 | Amazon Fire TV | Streaming TV | 17 | 2 |
| 4 | 60 Minutes | TV Show | 112 | 4 |
| 3 | Angel From Hell | TV Show | 79 | 3 |
| 4 | Late Show | TV Show | 113 | 4 |
| HT | Life In Pieces | TV Show | 66 | 4 |
| 2 | Limitless | TV Show | 35 | 5 |
| 2 | Lucy Special in Color | TV Show | 50 | |
| 3 | Mike and Molly | TV Show | 70 | 3 |
| 1 | People’s Choice Awards | TV Show | 30 | 3 |
| 3 | The Late Show | TV Show | 87 | 4 |
| 1 | Undercover Boss | TV Show | 22 | 4 |
| 4 | Undercover Boss | TV Show | 102 | 6 |
| HT | WCCO (Local) | TV Show | 58 | 4 |
| 2 | Fruit of the Loom | Underwear | 48 | |
| HT | Carmax | Used cars | 54 | 4 |
| 4 | Call of Duty | Video Game | 111 | 7 |
| 3 | PS4 Star Wars | Video Game | 82 | 7 |
| 2 | Citizen | Watches | 41 | 4 |
| 3 | Citizen | Watches | 75 | 2 |
| 4 | AT&T Direct TV | Wireless | 98 | 5 |
| 1 | Straight Talk | Wireless | 9 | 5 |
| HT | T-Mobile | Wireless | 57 | 4 |
| 1 | Verizon | Wireless | 4 | 4 |
| 1 | Verizon | Wireless | 16 | 4 |
| 1 | Verizon | Wireless | 31 | 4 |
| 3 | Verizon | Wireless | 74 | 4 |
This article was posted on Jan 7, 2016 but dated earlier so that it would appear in the index closer to the date the game was played.