The Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys are currently playing (preseason) Sunday Night Football at AT&T Stadium, and NBC introduced a new feature for their broadcasts.
It’s called the “Green Zone,” and it’s used on third downs to show viewers how far a team has to go to get a first down.
Wait, isn’t that what the yellow line is already for? Yes, but this shows the space — highlighted in green, so, greener grass — an offense needs to cover in order to get a first down. Or… to reach the yellow line.
See the vaunted Green Zone for yourself:
You didn’t even know that you needed a “Green Zone” to watch NFL games, did you! pic.twitter.com/1JBcNkmP7X
— Ƒunhouse (@BackAftaThis) August 27, 2018
Ah, it sure is green. And yep, it shows that space needed to get a first down! Hooray for technology. Reminiscent of ESPN illuminating the three-point line for NBA broadcasts.
As you’d imagine, Twitter doesn’t seem to find the Green Zone all that necessary.
NBC just debuted the “green zone.” I don’t know, I thought the yellow line pretty much showed you all you had to know..??
— Dave “Softy” Mahler (@Softykjr) August 27, 2018
No green zone on that third and 1? How am I supposed to know how much more yardage they need?
— Armond Atbin ✭ (@AAtbin) August 27, 2018
Hey @SNFonNBC , just show me the yellow line, the green zone is stupid. #GreenZone #AZvsDAL
— Ken Parker (@kparker723) August 27, 2018
@nbc green zone is a terrible idea. The first down line is enough! #itsnotbroke
— Zack Shelby (@zack_shelby) August 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/DylansRawTake/status/1033869557801394176
What is this green zone nonsense? There’s a reason the yellow line for the first down already exists #SNF @SNFonNBC
— Joe (day 1 dontayvion wicks fan) (@joepkipp) August 27, 2018
*Someone* likes it, at least.