Nov 5, 2026 · 25 min
Northern NFL markets power a midseason ratings surge
The NFL’s Rust Belt Renaissance
The episode connects the NFL’s strongest current storylines to regional fan enthusiasm while testing the durability of momentum in Los Angeles and other sports leagues.
- 1Successful teams in Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Buffalo, and Kansas City are driving strong NFL ratings and rivalries.
- 2The WNBA’s next commissioner must build on business and ratings gains while repairing trust with players and star athletes.
- 3MLB’s December 1 collective bargaining deadline sets up negotiations shaped by established positions and Rob Manfred’s labor background.
Don't miss
John Ourand argues that the WNBA’s next commissioner must actively engage its biggest stars as the league’s profile grows.
The brief
John Ourand joins Peter Hamby to assess an NFL season whose strongest ratings and rivalries are emerging from Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Buffalo, and Kansas City.
The northern-market surge gives the league a compelling midseason narrative, but the conversation asks whether fan enthusiasm can survive losing seasons and a large group of struggling teams.
The Rams’ growing visibility in Los Angeles offers a counterpoint: the league is testing whether success can create durable attention in a market where interest has been harder to sustain.
The WNBA’s leadership transition raises a different question: how should a successor to Kathy Engelbert preserve business gains while becoming more accessible to players and stars?
The episode closes on MLB’s December 1 collective bargaining deadline, with established positions and Rob Manfred’s labor-law background shaping the outlook.
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