What NFL RedZone Shows and When It Ends: A Comprehensive Guide

NFL RedZone is one of the most popular channels devoted to providing live coverage of National Football League (NFL) games. It focuses on the most exciting moments of the games, particularly during the red zone where teams are close to scoring. However, does it show a whole game? Let's dive into the details.

What NFL RedZone Helps You with?

NFL RedZone does not show an entire game. Instead, it focuses on live coverage of the most exciting moments of NFL games in progress. This includes scoring plays, key highlights, and crucial plays. It aims to keep viewers engaged with the most important action as it happens.

RedZone in Fantasy Football Context

If you are playing fantasy football, the term 'RedZone' takes on a different meaning. It refers to the period during which you're watching your players in multiple games. If all your players are playing during the Sunday morning/afternoon time slots, you can essentially "watch" your entire 'game' through RedZone.

When RedZone Shows the End of a Game

Near the end of the afternoon window, if only one game is still being played and it's taking longer than usual due to an injury issue or overtime, RedZone will stay on that game, reviewing some fantasy stats or the top plays of the day. However, it won't show commercials and will return to its regular schedule during the network's commercial break.

It's important to note that by contract, NFL RedZone cannot stay on air past 8:00 PM Eastern (5:00 PM Pacific) because NBC has exclusive rights to that time period on Sunday for their Sunday Night Football game. If it's getting close, RedZone will do a TD montage of all touchdowns scored for the day, announce it's available on their website, say good night, and switch to a static screen. At that point, viewers have to switch to Fox or CBS to catch the rest of the game.

Scoring and Key Plays

RedZone stays with plays until a touchdown or field goal occur or the possession is turned over. As for complete games, RedZone shows every touchdown from every game, switching between contests when any team reaches the 'red zone' (inside their opponents' 20-yard line). It also includes most scoring plays outside the 20, such as field goals, safeties, and major plays that set up the scoring opportunity.

Watching the Game from Start to Finish

If you want to see a game from beginning to end, you will have to tune into the main broadcast. RedZone's primary focus is on live coverage of exciting moments, not a continuous stream of all plays for each game.

In conclusion, while NFL RedZone offers a wealth of exciting moments during a game, it is not a complete broadcast of the entire game. It's designed for viewers who want to stay updated with the most thrilling moments happening on the field, particularly in the red zone. For those who want to see the full game, traditional channels remain the best option.