I have Verizon FiOS. I just passed on DirecTV after 19 seasons AT&T terrible customer service in my opinion . my picture was perfect in fact remarkable.
I'm going to go back to an antenna and I'll pay to get ESPN over the internet. I have a DVR that will record the OTA broadcasts.
I only got DirecTV for my GF to watch Packers games via the Sunday Ticket but most Packers games are shown in the Dallas market these days.
With regards to the Cowboys at Niners game I think they had a problem with the video in the path between the cameras and DirecTV, not between DirecTV and my house.
I'm basing that on the recorded version of the game available on nfl.com that also has problems with video frame loss in a few spots.