“I’m not watching!”
That is the growing refrain across social media tonight as a significant contingent of NFL fans announced a total boycott of Super Bowl LX.
Despite the high-stakes drama of Championship Sunday, a vocal portion of the football world appears ready to change the channel on the NFL’s biggest stage, citing frustration with the final matchup.
The boycott threats follow a day of hard-hitting football that finalized the pairing for the Lombardi Trophy. The New England Patriots secured their spot first, edging out the Denver Broncos in a defensive 10-7 struggle to claim the AFC title.
Hours later, the Seattle Seahawks emerged from a high-scoring NFC battle, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in front of a raucous home crowd.
The two teams are now scheduled to meet at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8.
Why fans are turning away
While a Patriots-Seahawks clash would usually be a marquee event, many fans aren’t buying into the narrative. The criticism is twofold:
The Patriots’ Path: Critics argue that Drake Maye and the Patriots benefited from an unusually “easy” regular-season schedule and a fortunate playoff bracket.
The Darnold Factor: On the NFC side, a segment of the audience remains skeptical of the Sam Darnold-led Seahawks, with some fans describing the overall matchup as “brutal” and unappealing.
“Will not be watching the Super Bowl lol the NFL sucks,” one frustrated fan posted, echoing the “no way” sentiment shared by thousands of others who feel the league’s parity has missed the mark this season.
A high bar for ratings
The NFL faces a massive challenge in maintaining its recent viewership streak. The Super Bowl remains the most-watched single-day event in the U.S., with the last three years showing consistent growth:
- Super Bowl LVII: 114.21 Million
- Super Bowl LVIII: 121.5 Million
- Super Bowl LIX: 127.7 Million
Whether the current “boycott” is merely a vocal minority or a genuine threat to the league’s ratings remains to be seen. However, with the Super Bowl still two weeks away, the NFL has a major PR battle on its hands to convince disgruntled fans that Maye vs. Darnold is a game worth watching.
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