The NFL has scheduled a crucial Week 18 game between the Steelers and Ravens for Sunday Night Football, highlighting its importance in the playoff race, despite some debate over the choice and uncertainties regarding key players like Lamar Jackson.
The Week 11 NFL game between the Seahawks and Rams, despite its significance and rivalry, remains scheduled for a daytime slot due to NFL flex scheduling rules, divisional matchup restrictions, and existing broadcast commitments, preventing it from being moved to prime time.
The NFL's remaining schedule for the season features notable broadcasting decisions, including a Week 15 doubleheader with CBS and Fox airing major games simultaneously, potentially limiting viewership. Despite the Cowboys' poor record, they remain in prime-time slots due to high ratings. CBS faces challenges with key AFC games airing on other networks due to bidding outcomes. Flex scheduling options are limited by existing broadcast agreements, affecting potential prime-time matchups. The article also touches on media coverage and broadcasting dynamics in sports.
Denver Broncos fans, including Greg Wellesley, are scrambling to adjust their travel plans after the NFL flexed the Broncos vs. Chargers game to a Thursday night slot, marking the first-ever Thursday night flex. Originally scheduled for Sunday, the change has caused logistical and financial challenges for fans who had planned to travel to Los Angeles for the game. Despite the inconvenience, Wellesley remains optimistic about the Broncos' chances in the prime time slot.
The NFL has implemented its first-ever Thursday Night Football flex, replacing the Week 16 matchup between the Browns and Bengals with the Broncos at Chargers. This decision, made by the league on Friday, aims to feature a game with greater playoff implications, as the Broncos and Chargers have better records than the Browns and Bengals. The flex scheduling was approved by NFL owners in May 2023, but this is its first use. The Browns and Bengals will now play on Sunday, December 22.
The NFL has adjusted its Week 11 schedule, moving the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills game to a standalone national broadcast on CBS, while the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Chargers game will air on "Sunday Night Football." Originally, the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets were set for prime time but have been moved to an earlier slot. The Chiefs, currently undefeated, and the Bills, both leading their divisions, are top contenders in the AFC, making their matchup highly anticipated with potential playoff implications.
The NFL has flexed the Week 11 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers to "Sunday Night Football," replacing the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts, who will now play at 1 p.m. ET. This change highlights the league's flexible scheduling policy aimed at showcasing more competitive matchups. The Bengals, led by Joe Burrow, and the Chargers both secured wins in Week 9, while the Jets and Colts have struggled this season. The Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills game will now be a standalone national broadcast at 4:25 p.m. ET.
The NFL has announced that the Eagles-Seahawks game in Week 15 will be flexed to Monday night, instead of the originally scheduled Sunday slot. This is the first time flex scheduling for Monday night games is being used. The decision was made to showcase a more competitive matchup, as the Patriots' game against the Chiefs was moved to a 1 p.m. ET slot. The Eagles will now play on back-to-back Mondays, hosting the Giants on Christmas.
The NFL has announced that the Week 15 game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks will be moved to Monday Night Football, marking the first time a game has been flexed into Monday night. The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots, originally scheduled for Monday night, will be moved to Sunday afternoon. The decision to flex the Eagles-Seahawks game was made due to its larger implications for the NFC playoffs. The NFL may also make further changes to its prime-time schedule in Week 17 if there are no longer playoff implications.
The decision to keep the Chicago Bears vs Los Angeles Chargers game on "Sunday Night Football" despite both teams having losing records indicates that the NFL has set a higher standard for flex scheduling. While the league has expanded its flex options to include Monday and Thursday nights, the bar has been raised on what games will be flexed out. Networks can protect a game each week, and the league believes that moving a game out of prime time so far in advance means it won't become a better matchup in the coming weeks.
The NFL has implemented several rule changes for the 2023 season, including the revival of a limited "third quarterback" rule, an expansion of late-season flexible scheduling for Monday and Thursday night games, and an attempt to reduce kickoff returns by incentivizing fair catches. The league has also allowed the use of the number 0 on jerseys, altered the use of the helmet rule, and made failed fourth downs automatically reviewable. However, roughing the passer penalties remain non-reviewable despite controversy surrounding the rule.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has moved its state football finals from Friday and Saturday to Saturday and Sunday due to a Michigan State and Penn State game on Friday night at Ford Field. However, this could create a problem for parochial high schools that prefer not to play on Sundays. The MHSAA has said it will work with schools that don't want to play on Sunday, moving their game(s) to Saturday to avoid any problems. The MHSAA's executive director, Mark Uyl, said that "flex scheduling" will be implemented to try and satisfy all of the teams that reach the finals.
The NFL has approved a modified flex scheduling program for Thursday Night Football starting in 2023, allowing the league to flex games in and out of the Thursday night time slot between Weeks 13-17. The Green Bay Packers could potentially get a second Thursday night game later in the season if their matchups against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers are seen as better draws. However, the Packers' schedule makes it unlikely that they will be flexed into Thursday night during the 2021 season.
The NFL has passed a rule to bring back the emergency quarterback, requiring the third quarterback to be on the 53-man roster. This means the Eagles will get a freebie on gameday, as they usually carry three quarterbacks. The 49ers, who complained about the lack of an emergency quarterback after their loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, may have to carry four quarterbacks on their roster to have an emergency quarterback. Additionally, the NFL has approved a new television rule that allows Sunday games to be flexed to Thursday nights from Weeks 13-17 with at least 28 days notice. No team can play more than two Thursday night games in one season, nor can they be flexed into Thursday night more than once per season.
The NFL has expanded its flex scheduling rule to include Thursday Night Football games, potentially impacting the New England Patriots' road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14. The decision to move games will have to be made 28 days in advance, and only two Thursday night games can be flexed per season. The Patriots voted in favor of adopting the resolution, while eight teams, including the Steelers, opposed it.