Fans fume at NFL for being 'un-American,' Sophie the sex symbol & the greatest post-9/11 national anthem ever
NFL Expands International Reach, Adds Thursday‑Eve Game to Netflix Line‑up
The National Football League has announced that its inaugural Thanksgiving Eve matchup, featuring the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams, will be streamed exclusively on Netflix. The decision follows the league’s recent decision to host a regular‑season game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia—a first‑ever NFL game on Australian soil that drew a sold‑out crowd and was also made available through the streaming service.
Thursday‑Eve game to be streamed on Netflix
In a press release issued Thursday, the NFL confirmed that the Thanksgiving Eve game will be streamed on the same day on Netflix, allowing fans who cannot attend the game in person to follow the action in real time. The league said it expects the streaming partnership to broaden the fan base for the sport during the busy holiday weekend.
The Rams‑49ers game in Melbourne
The Rams‑49ers contest was played on Thursday night at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the city’s largest venue, and it marked the first NFL game held outside the United States. The event was part of the league’s long‑term strategy to grow the sport internationally, a plan the league has pursued since the early 2000s.
The match attracted a sold‑out crowd of more than 70,000 fans and featured a special 9/11 commemoration. The league’s spokesperson noted that the event was a tribute to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, with a moment of silence and a presentation of the national flag.
Despite the large audience, many NFL fans in the U.S. reported difficulty locating the game on Netflix. “Fans were frustrated that the game wasn’t immediately available on the platform,” said a sports‑media analyst. “The pay‑wall and streaming issues made it hard for many to watch the action.”
The league’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, has reiterated the organization’s interest in expanding its footprint beyond American borders. In a statement, Goodell said the league is “open to the possibility of adding additional teams in international markets.”
National anthem tribute
The league also highlighted a patriotic moment from the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks: Jim Cornelison’s rendition of the national anthem at a commemorative event. The performance, widely shared online, was praised for its emotional impact and was described as one of the most memorable national anthem performances in recent memory.
College football highlights
Meanwhile, college football headlines included a lopsided win for the University of Miami over Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Miami won 77‑7, the largest margin of victory in the season. The game, which took place last week, was notable for the fact that the FAMU team was listed as a 0.5 point over underdog in betting lines—a scenario that attracted attention from sports‑betting enthusiasts.
Looking ahead
The NFL’s move to stream its Thanksgiving Eve game on Netflix and its first game in Australia reflect a broader strategy to engage fans in new markets and through new platforms. Whether the pay‑wall and streaming issues encountered in Melbourne will dampen fan enthusiasm remains to be seen, but the league is clear that it intends to continue testing the waters abroad while keeping its core fan base engaged at home.