A friend asked me what I thought of the Lions schedule, given the Denver game (Week 15) and end of season against Minny are flex games. This was my response. What do you guys think?
Yes, I’d be shocked if the Lions weren’t flexed for Denver. The games scheduled for Thursday Night (Chargers/Raiders) and MNF (Chiefs/Pats) aren’t compelling, which is what determines change. Sunday night that week is Ravens/Jags, which has playoff implications, so that will remain. My guess: Lions play Thursday night or Monday night against Broncos. League will announce 6 days before that Thursday, so you’ll know by probably Dec. 8.
Minnesota game would only get flexed to a night game on Thurs, Sun, or Mon if Lions haven’t wrapped up division, which I think they will. I think Vikes are done, but could be wrong. If they lose this weekend, I think a Sunday afternoon game remains likely.
I can definitely see that getting flexed to TNF. A lot of storylines there with Campbell and Glenn going against Sean Peyton. High upset potential with the Broncos playing better than their record. Much more compelling than the Chargers and Raiders
I believe the maximum number of TNF games per team per season is 2. (Up from 1 last year) We already have played 2 plus the Thanksgiving game. I do not believe we can be flexed to another Thursday game.
In Week 15, three of five designated matchups will be played on Saturday with the remainder to be played on Sunday. Specific dates and start times for the designated Week 15 matchups will be determined and announced at a later date during the season.
The Broncos game is TBD, so I would bet it would be one of the 3 games, probably the Saturday night game. Looking at the schedule the TBD games are (Falcons vs Panthers, Vikes vs Bengals, Bears vs Browns, Broncos vs Lions, and Steelers vs Colts).
I am thinking they will announce 12 days from Saturday the 16th. We should know Monday or Tuesday.
The last game of the season is the only one that I think “the NFL” gets heavily involved in. They want the last Sunday Night game to mean something. In particular Goodell said they prefer that last game be a “win or go home” situation for both teams. I don’t think “the NFL” wants to get too involved in some of the other flex scheduling stuff. Its important to remember that they are trying to keep all of their broadcast partners happy.
That being said, whenever I think about flex scheduling the first thing I do is look at the current position of the Cowboys, Packers and Steelers games. Those teams have huge national followings and networks fight for those games. The Chiefs are the hot ticket right now along with the Eagles and 49ers, so they get added to that list. If any of those teams are part of the game, the network that has the game is going to choose to keep it. And other than the final week of the season, I do not think “the NFL” is going to come in and overrule their decision. From that standpoint I start to look at what each network is working with each week and go from there:
Monday Night Football
Week 13 - Already too late
Week 14 is Packers @ Giants. Since the Packers are involved, I doubt the network will want to make a change.
Week 15 is Chiefs @ Patriots. Again, the network will probably stick with the super high ratings of Chiefs games.
Week 16 is Ravens @ 49ers. Need I say more?
Sunday Night Football
Week 13 is Chiefs @ Packers. SNF probably sold its soul to get this game. Its not moving.
Week 14 is Eagles @ Cowboys. Yeah, no chance this is moving.
Week 15 is Ravens @ Jaguars. This is 2 playoff teams competing for playoff seeding. I can’t see it moving.
Week 16 is Bengals @ Steelers & Bills @ Chargers. Being around Xmas its a strange weekend but I don’t think the league will step in and make a major move here.
Week 17 is Packers @ Vikings. I doubt the game moves because it has the Packers.
Thursday Night Football
Week 13 is Seahawks @ Cowboys - Its too late and it wouldn’t move anyways.
Week 14 is Patriots @ Steelers - Its too late and it probably wouldn’t move anyways because of the Steelers.
Week 15 is Chargers @ Raiders - Its too late.
Week 16 is Saints @ Rams - It might already be too late.
Week 17 is Jets @ Browns - It will be interesting to see what Amazon does here. If I were them, I would request a change just to flex muscles (get it, flex?). Its the last TNF game of the year. The best game of the week is Lions @ Cowboys. That will be protected by the network that has it, and it would put both teams “over the limit” on games like the Thursday Night game. The only game I see that is interesting and might not be protected by the network currently holding it is Dolphins vs Ravens. But the Ravens play on Monday NIght prior, so that isn’t possible.
For Sunday Night Football in Weeks 5-13 and for Monday Night Football in Weeks 12-17, the NFL will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN) and announce no later than 12 days in advance of the game, which game will be played on Sunday night and which game will be played on Monday night.
For Sunday Night Football in Weeks 14-17, the flexible scheduling decision will generally be made no later than 6 days prior to the game.
Since we’re past week 13 at that point, MNF gets 12 days, and SNF gets 6 days.
I think the final week of the season will be the only “change” to the Sunday Night Football schedule. The NFL says it will “decide after consultation with the networks.” In reality a network will have to ask the NFL for a change, and the NFL would take it from there. Sunday and Monday Night Football is littered with Chiefs, Cowboys, Eagles and Packers. Networks love those teams, so they will not be requesting a change.
Change it! Change it! This is going to be an absolutely brutal game to watch between two teams with nothing to play for, 3rd string or worse QB play, and brutal defenses which may put more people on IR than total points scored. Being the last Thursday Night game of the year, they need something better. Any of the three Sunday late afternoon games would be better, any of them, and would prevent the brutal brain injuries to all viewers.
I know this game was supposed to be Rodgers vs Watson, but it’s not. Boyle vs Walker? Yeah, not what America has been waiting for. Hey hey, ho ho, this lousy game has got to go!
Change it! Change it! This is going to be an absolutely brutal game to watch between two teams with nothing to play for, 3rd string or worse QB play, and brutal defenses which may put more people on IR than total points scored. Being the last Thursday Night game of the year, they need something better. Any of the three Sunday late afternoon games would be better, any of them, and would prevent the brutal brain injuries to all viewers.