On this day, December the 20th, in the year of 1980, NBC broadcasted an experimental NFL game production, featuring no commentary.

Highlighting a last week of the regular season matchup between the playoff dropout teams of the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, NBC used the meeting to see if having no commentators would either enhance, ruin, or not change the viewing experience.

Overall, it was seen as not enhancing the game.

NBC placed microphones throughout Miami’s Orange Bowl to better pickup the audio of the field and fans, though, through a mixture of technical difficulties sometimes running the audio and the NFL not allowing live mics to be placed on the players, the production wasn’t to their standards.

In lieu of commentators breaking down and explaining events and the status of the contest, NBC employed a heavy use of graphics, especially for the day. Also, the in-stadium announcer took to explaining the happenings of the game more than average.

The Jets won the game twenty-four to seventeen, finishing off the season with four wins and twelve losses, and, technical difficulties aside, there has been commentary on NFL broadcasts since (ESPN) (Sportscasting).

To read more daily facts and tidbits and about pro football, see the Barron Perspectives “On this Day Archives” webpage and articles such as “On This Day – October 22nd (First Televised Pro Football Game” and “On This Day – October 23rd (Monday Night Miracle)”.