It won’t decline until something comes around to replace it, it’s still the best show in town right now.
You have to remember, people were upset when they changed the rules so defensive linemen could no longer headslap the offensive linemen.
People were upset when they outlawed contact on receivers after 5 yards, saying offenses would score in the 50’s every game.
But defenses adapted and successful teams tried to hit the QB as often as possible with as many big men as they could bring. So the rules changed to protect those guys. Honestly I don’t want to see Colts vs Patriots with Curtis Painter and Brian Hoyer duking it out if Peyton and Brady are hurt.
It sucks when the refs get the calls wrong, and a clean hit gets punished, but it’s reacting to the strategy of “putting a hat on” that guy with the football every play. Ultimately there’s plenty of hits, physical teams still have an advantage, and careers will just keep getting shorter as bodies can’t hold up to the punishment the larger faster stronger guys put on each other every week.
Trying to keep it all in perspective, and as a guy who loves defense, I still think there’s plenty of ways to keep the other guys from scoring. Smart teams adapt.