Could a combination of delays spell bad TV ratings news for the NFL’s Thursday night season opener?

According to a report by Front Office Sports on Friday, the NFL entered the season anticipating delays in gathering ratings data as Nielsen this week implemented a system designed to better gauge viewership through both linear and streaming platforms.

Because of the increased data and surveyed data points (according to FOS, “all major sports broadcasters” will be used in the data gathering), the NFL expects the ratings for the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles’ 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday to be released sometime next week.

Adding to the concern is the hour-plus lightning delay in the third quarter that did not see the game end until nearly 20 minutes

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