Game Date: Sun Dec 13, 2015
Teams: New England Patriots @ Houston Texans
Network: NBC
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
Not at all excited about watching this game. It’s Sunday night and I have to go to work on Monday. I hope the Patriots will lose again after two in a row. Neutral on the Texans. But I have to watch something this week to keep up with my program of at least one game a week.
Overall Response
Zzzzz. Looks like Gronkowski has recovered quite nicely from his injury from a couple weeks ago. Holy crap. Those cheating Patriots won 26-7. Bastards.
TV Razzle Dazzle
Blocking JJ Watt — apparently that’s the key to winning against the Texans, and they had a cool graphic all set to go. Microfracture graphic – Michelle Tafoya explaining somebody’s knee injury; amusing to have a little medical instruction during the game. Seems as though that’s the bulk of Tafoya’s reporting — what’s happening off the field with newly injured players. Given the number of injuries every game, I’d say her job is secure.
Entertainment value
1/5. Seemed pretty one-sided.
Commercial commentary
- Lots of ads. 116, 4.65/7.00.
- Star Wars, Christmas and Holiday theme-ads in abundance (including one for Verizon that played several times throughout the game).
- No fantasy football ads. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen one.
- Lots of auto/truck ads (23 — close to 20% of all the ads).
Interesting Extras
Shot of Texans hosting holiday party for kids. Skanky Santa outfits for the cheeleaders. I’ve noticed that when a player is injured they’ll mention that “he’s in the x-ray room” Hmmm … NFL stadiums have x-ray rooms?
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: New England @ Houston, Dec 13 2015, NBC. Total ads: 116 | Category | Ad Number | Testosterone Factor: 4.65/7.00 |
| 3 | Southwest | Airline | 70 | 6 |
| HT | BMW | Auto | 59 | 4 |
| 1 | Cadillac | Auto | 19s | 1 |
| 1 | Chevrolet | Auto | 6 | 4 |
| 1 | Chevy | Auto | 10 | 5 |
| 1 | Chevy | Auto | 17 | 4 |
| HT | Dodge RAM (Star Wars) | Auto | 67 | 7 |
| HT | Ford | Auto | 65 | 5 |
| HT | GMC | Auto | 57 | 7 |
| HT | Jeep (Star Wars) | Auto | 61 | 5 |
| 2 | KIA | Auto | 44 | 4 |
| 1 | KIA Sorento | Auto | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | KIA Sorento | Auto | 40 | 7 |
| 2 | Mercedes | Auto | 33 | 7 |
| 2 | Mercedes | Auto | 38 | 7 |
| 4 | Nissan | Auto | 102 | 4 |
| 4 | Nissan | Auto | 112 | 4 |
| 4 | Nissan Rogue | Auto | 110 | 7 |
| 3 | Toyota | Auto | 71 | 4 |
| 3 | Toyota | Auto | 76 | 4 |
| 3 | Toyota | Auto | 78 | 4 |
| HT | Toyota* | Auto | 63 | 7 |
| 4 | Volkswagen | Auto | 95 | 4 |
| 4 | Volkswagen | Auto | 97 | 4 |
| 2 | Bud Light | Beer | 50 | 7 |
| 4 | Budweiser | Beer | 108 | 4 |
| 2 | National Car Rental | Car Rental | 49 | 6 |
| 1 | Samsung | Cellphone | 14 | 4 |
| 2 | Apple | Computer | 41 | 4 |
| 1 | apple TV | Computer | 24 | 4 |
| 3 | chromecast audio | Computer | 87 | 4 |
| 1 | Microsoft Surface Pro | Computer | 7 | 4 |
| 3 | Microsoft Surface Pro | Computer | 85 | 4 |
| 4 | Microsoft Surface Pro | Computer | 109 | 5 |
| 2 | Samsung | Computer | 48 | 4 |
| 4 | Samsung | Computer | 98 | 4 |
| 1 | Amazon Prime | Delivery | 9 | |
| 2 | Amazon Prime | Delivery | 55 | 1 |
| 1 | Macy’s | Department Store | 25 | 4 |
| 4 | Macy’s | Department Store | 99 | 2 |
| 1 | Walmart Xmas Day | Discount Store | 22 | 3 |
| 4 | Walmart Xmas Day | Discount Store | 113 | 4 |
| 1 | Best Buy | Electronics | 28 | 4 |
| 1 | Bose (JJ Watt) | Electronics | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | Bose (JJ Watt) | Electronics | 105 | 7 |
| HT | NK | Farming | 66 | 5 |
| 2 | Capital One | Financial | 54 | 2 |
| 1 | Navy Federal Credit Union | Financial | 8 | 4 |
| 1 | USAA | Financial | 31 | 3 |
| 2 | Football Is Family | Football | 42 | 6 |
| HT | Football Is Family | Football | 62 | 7 |
| 3 | NFL Network | Football | 89 | 5 |
| HT | NFL Network Thu Night | Football | 68 | 6 |
| 4 | NFL Shop | Football | 115 | 3 |
| 1 | Play60 | Football | 13 | 4 |
| 1 | SNF All Access | Football | 5 | 7 |
| 4 | Sunday Football | Football | 101 | 6 |
| HT | HOM Furniture | Furniture | 58 | 4 |
| 3 | American Family* | Insurance | 91 | 3 |
| 4 | Geico | Insurance | 107 | 4 |
| 3 | Nationwide (Manning)* | Insurance | 74 | 6 |
| 2 | H8Ful | Movie | 43 | 6 |
| 1 | Mission Impossible | Movie | 21 | 7 |
| 2 | Outdoor movie | Movie | 36 | 7 |
| 1 | Sisters | Movie | 30 | 1 |
| 1 | Star Wars | Movie | 16 | 7 |
| 4 | Ted 2 | Movie | 104 | 5 |
| 3 | Arby’s | Restaurants | 92 | 5 |
| 3 | Chili’s | Restaurants | 72 | 4 |
| 1 | McDonald’s | Restaurants | 15 | 3 |
| 3 | McDonald’s | Restaurants | 84 | 4 |
| 1 | Olive Garden | Restaurants | 29 | 4 |
| 2 | Subway | Restaurants | 51 | 4 |
| 1 | Subway (Star Wars) | Restaurants | 4 | 6 |
| 1 | Wendy’s | Restaurants | 11 | 4 |
| 3 | Wendy’s* | Restaurants | 80 | 6 |
| 2 | Direct TV | Satellite TV | 52 | 5 |
| 3 | Direct TV | Satellite TV | 75 | 6 |
| 3 | Nike | Sportswear | 83 | 7 |
| 2 | North Face | Sportswear | 37 | 4 |
| 4 | Adele Live | TV Show | 106 | 2 |
| 2 | Chicago Shows | TV Show | 39 | 6 |
| 4 | Childhood’s End | TV Show | 114 | 3 |
| 1 | Golden Globes | TV Show | 32 | 5 |
| 3 | NBC Sport | TV Show | 82 | 6 |
| 3 | Running Wild | TV Show | 77 | 4 |
| 2 | Shades of Blue | TV Show | 46 | 6 |
| HT | Shades of Blue | TV Show | 64 | 6 |
| 4 | Shades of Blue | TV Show | 116 | 4 |
| 3 | SNL Holiday Episode | TV Show | 90 | 4 |
| 1 | Superstore | TV Show | 27 | 3 |
| 1 | Telenova | TV Show | 23 | 3 |
| 3 | The Biggest Loser | TV Show | 86 | 4 |
| 2 | The Expanse | TV Show | 53 | 4 |
| 1 | The Voice | TV Show | 18 | 4 |
| HT | The Voice | TV Show | 56 | 3 |
| 4 | The Voice | TV Show | 100 | 4 |
| HT | Tonight Show | TV Show | 69 | 4 |
| 4 | Wed Hockey | TV Show | 111 | 7 |
| 3 | Exxon Mobil | Utilities | 88 | 4 |
| 2 | GE | Utilities | 47 | 6 |
| 4 | PS4 Star Wars | Video Game | 96 | 7 |
| 3 | X1 Infinity | Video Game | 93 | 7 |
| 2 | Citizen (Eli Manning)* | Watches | 35 | 6 |
| 3 | Amazon Fire | Wireless | 81 | 4 |
| 1 | Sprint | Wireless | 26 | 4 |
| 3 | Sprint | Wireless | 79 | 5 |
| HT | T Mobile | Wireless | 60 | 4 |
| 1 | Verizon | Wireless | 1 | 4 |
| 1 | Verizon | Wireless | 12 | 4 |
| 1 | Verizon | Wireless | 20 | 4 |
| 2 | Verizon | Wireless | 34 | 4 |
| 2 | Verizon | Wireless | 45 | 4 |
| 3 | Verizon | Wireless | 73 | 4 |
| 4 | Verizon | Wireless | 94 | 4 |
| 4 | Verizon | Wireless | 103 | 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.