NBC Sports faced backlash on Sunday after it opted not to air the national anthem before the Divisional Round playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams.

The decision sparked outrage among fans, many of whom took to social media to express their displeasure.

The absence of The Star-Spangled Banner from the broadcast led to criticism on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).

@NBCSports Y’all and the @NFL are a disgrace and total losers for not showing the national anthem for the Rams v Eagles. Wow.

— David Elam (@davidelam871e) January 19, 2025

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“Y’all and the @NFL are a disgrace and total losers for not showing the national anthem for the Rams v Eagles,” one fan wrote.

@NBCSports Y’all and the @NFL are a disgrace and total losers for not showing the national anthem for the Rams v Eagles. Wow.

— David Elam (@davidelam871e) January 19, 2025

Another mistakenly directed their anger toward NBC News, posting, “@NBCNews F^%# You for not showing the national Anthem!!! Shame on you!!!”

“Once again NBC doesn’t show national anthem,” added another commenter.

“Thank God our country is moving away from woke and woke networks!!!”

Historically, national anthem broadcasts during NFL games were rare outside of significant events like the Super Bowl or major championships.

Prior to 2009, players were not even required to be on the field during the anthem, except for a brief period following the 9/11 attacks.

However, the league’s handling of the anthem came under scrutiny during the 2016 and 2017 seasons when several players began kneeling during the song to protest police brutality and racial injustice.

The NFL now requires players on the field to “stand and show respect for the flag” during the anthem, though they are permitted to remain in the locker room if they choose.

The issue of airing the national anthem has also made headlines at the collegiate level.

Recently, ESPN came under fire for failing to broadcast the anthem before the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

The game, which featured Notre Dame and Georgia at Caesars Superdome, occurred shortly after a deadly terror attack that claimed 14 lives and injured 35 others.

ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus admitted that the omission was a mistake, citing “human error.”

Speaking on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, Magnus said, “There are a group of people in Bristol who just made an enormous mistake. It was a human error, it happens. I don’t want to minimize it by any stretch but nothing was normal about that next day—including our programming lineup.”

Listen to @espn President of Content Burke Magnus blame “human error” for skipping the National Anthem at the Sugar Bowl. @ClayTravis pic.twitter.com/SNbGIWKosU

— The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show (@clayandbuck) January 16, 2025

The omission drew sharp criticism from fans and former ESPN anchor Sage Steele, who accused the network of deliberately skipping the anthem.

Magnus insisted that the network felt “terrible” about the incident and acknowledged that ESPN “should be held to account” for the error.

The controversy surrounding the anthem highlights ongoing tensions between sports networks, fans, and the broader public over how patriotic symbols are handled during major events.

While some viewers argue that the national anthem should always be shown, others point out that networks have traditionally reserved its broadcast for special occasions.

As NBC Sports faces criticism for its decision, the debate over how the national anthem is treated during sports broadcasts shows no signs of fading.

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