diff --git a/i3pystatus/scores/__init__.py b/i3pystatus/scores/__init__.py
index 58f5ffa..c4ba7e7 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/scores/__init__.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/scores/__init__.py
@@ -45,11 +45,29 @@ class ScoresBackend(SettingsBase):
         try:
             with urlopen(url) as content:
                 try:
+                    if content.url != url:
+                        self.logger.debug('Request to %s was redirected to %s',
+                                          url, content.url)
                     content_type = dict(content.getheaders())['Content-Type']
+                    mime_type = content_type.split(';')[0].lower()
+                    if 'json' not in mime_type:
+                        self.logger.debug('Response from %s is not JSON',
+                                          content.url)
+                        return {}
                     charset = re.search(r'charset=(.*)', content_type).group(1)
                 except AttributeError:
                     charset = 'utf-8'
-                response = json.loads(content.read().decode(charset))
+                response_json = content.read().decode(charset).strip()
+                if not response_json:
+                    self.logger.debug('JSON response from %s was blank', url)
+                    return {}
+                try:
+                    response = json.loads(response_json)
+                except json.decoder.JSONDecodeError as exc:
+                    self.logger.error('Error loading JSON: %s', exc)
+                    self.logger.debug('JSON text that failed to load: %s',
+                                      response_json)
+                    return {}
                 self.logger.log(5, 'API response: %s', response)
                 return response
         except HTTPError as exc:
diff --git a/i3pystatus/scores/epl.py b/i3pystatus/scores/epl.py
index cbd505e..60ec17d 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/scores/epl.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/scores/epl.py
@@ -213,6 +213,12 @@ class EPL(ScoresBackend):
 
     def get_context(self):
         response = self.api_request(self.context_url)
+        if not response:
+            # There is no context data, but we still need a date to use in
+            # __init__.py to log that there are no games for the given date.
+            # Fall back to the parent class' function to set a date.
+            super(EPL, self).get_api_date()
+            return False
         context_tuple = namedtuple(
             'Context',
             ('competition', 'date', 'game_week', 'match_day', 'season')
@@ -224,6 +230,7 @@ class EPL(ScoresBackend):
                           'matchDayId', 'seasonId')
             ]
         )
+        return True
 
     def get_team_stats(self):
         ret = {}
@@ -259,48 +266,51 @@ class EPL(ScoresBackend):
             return '?\''
 
     def check_scores(self):
-        self.get_context()
-        self.get_api_date()
-
-        url = self.api_url % (self.context.competition,
-                              self.context.season,
-                              self.context.game_week)
-
-        for item in self.api_request(url).get('Data', []):
-            if item.get('Key', '') == self.date.strftime('%Y%m%d'):
-                game_list = item.get('Scores', [])
-                break
+        if not self.get_context():
+            data = team_game_map = {}
         else:
-            game_list = []
-        self.logger.debug('game_list = %s', game_list)
+            self.get_api_date()
 
-        team_stats = self.get_team_stats()
+            url = self.api_url % (self.context.competition,
+                                  self.context.season,
+                                  self.context.game_week)
 
-        # Convert list of games to dictionary for easy reference later on
-        data = {}
-        team_game_map = {}
-        for game in game_list:
-            try:
-                id_ = game['Id']
-            except KeyError:
-                continue
+            for item in self.api_request(url).get('Data', []):
+                if item.get('Key', '') == self.date.strftime('%Y%m%d'):
+                    game_list = item.get('Scores', [])
+                    break
+            else:
+                game_list = []
 
-            try:
+            self.logger.debug('game_list = %s', game_list)
+
+            team_stats = self.get_team_stats()
+
+            # Convert list of games to dictionary for easy reference later on
+            data = {}
+            team_game_map = {}
+            for game in game_list:
+                try:
+                    id_ = game['Id']
+                except KeyError:
+                    continue
+
+                try:
+                    for key in ('HomeTeam', 'AwayTeam'):
+                        team = game[key]['Code'].upper()
+                        if team in self.favorite_teams:
+                            team_game_map.setdefault(team, []).append(id_)
+                except KeyError:
+                    continue
+
+                data[id_] = game
+                # Merge in the team stats, because they are not returned in the
+                # initial API request.
                 for key in ('HomeTeam', 'AwayTeam'):
                     team = game[key]['Code'].upper()
-                    if team in self.favorite_teams:
-                        team_game_map.setdefault(team, []).append(id_)
-            except KeyError:
-                continue
-
-            data[id_] = game
-            # Merge in the team stats, because they are not returned in the
-            # initial API request.
-            for key in ('HomeTeam', 'AwayTeam'):
-                team = game[key]['Code'].upper()
-                data[id_][key]['Stats'] = team_stats.get(team, {})
-            # Add the minute, if applicable
-            data[id_]['Minute'] = self.get_minute(data, id_)
+                    data[id_][key]['Stats'] = team_stats.get(team, {})
+                # Add the minute, if applicable
+                data[id_]['Minute'] = self.get_minute(data, id_)
 
         self.interpret_api_return(data, team_game_map)