I have an idea.
They should put the Red Zone channel on during Thursday night games.
I know there's only one game, but I bet more people would watch it. If only to try to figure out when Scott Hanson takes bathroom breaks.
He can show plays from last week and some previews from the coming week. Or maybe just all Patriots stuff. Or kittens. They can cut to the live game now and then just to show there really is an alleged NLF game happening. "Let's go now to Nashville, double box, and see if anything is happening." One camera scans field, another scans sideline. "Mmm, nope. But we'll come back again. Yes, we are paying people to watch this game so you don't have to."
Then after something actually happens in the live game they can show it, just like on Sundays. I mean, if you could watch something half decent and know they would show you anything interesting from a real live NFL game right after it happens ... wouldn't you?
I can feel the adrenaline already.