nashvillepatsfan

here's some more info I found, but take it with a grain of salt. Its not from nfl.com.

Flexible-scheduling
Since the 2006 season, the NFL has used a "flexible-scheduling" system for the last seven weeks of the regular season where there is a Sunday night game. The system is designed so that the league has the flexibility in selecting games to air on Sunday night that will feature a more even or intriguing contest as well as make it possible for teams to play in primetime.

Under the system, all Sunday games in the affected weeks in the Eastern and Central time zones will tentatively have the start time of 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). Those played in the Mountain or Pacific time zones will have the tentative start time of 4:05 p.m. ET (1:05 p.m. PT). Also, there will be one game provisionally slotted into the 8:15 p.m. ET slot. On the Tuesday twelve days before the games, the league will move one game to the prime-time slot (or keep its original choice), and possibly move one or more 1 p.m. slotted games to the 4 p.m. slot. During the last week of the season, the league could re-schedule games as late as six days before the contests so that as many of the television networks as possible will be able to broadcast a game that has major playoff implications.

FOX and CBS may each protect five games for the 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. slot. However, they may not protect more than one game per week, and can not protect any games in week 17. All games in the final week of the season are subject to being moved to 8:15 p.m. Individual teams may make no more than four appearances on NBC during the season. Only three teams may make as many as six prime-time appearances (Sunday night, Monday night, and Thursday night combined).

jmt57

Regardless of if it is the decision of the networks, the NFL, or both, the bottom line is they both are attempting to maximize profits by offering the games that will be watched by the largest number of viewers. The obvious choice for the 8:00 game was Denver at San Diego. The 4:00 games went to teams that control their own destiny in the AFC, the Ravens and Dolphins. And Dallas at Philly was another obvious choice for the 4:00 game on Fox.

While we as fans may not like it, it doesn't make good business sense to have all three games on at the same time. Jets, Dolphins and Ravens fans will all be watching the Pats, and then their own team at 4:00. Pats fans will watch the game in Buffalo and then the Jets - Dolphins. And if that's a blowout, the network can switch to the Ravens game.

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DarrylS

Does not seem all that complicated the Jets and Giants were both scheduled for 1:00 PM, so for maximum exposure they flexed the Jets to 4:00 PM.. secondarily, it makes sense as the Jets/Phins will generate a lot of interest=ad dollars...

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PATSYLICIOUS

Yep, it's all about ratings. The Jets-Miami game is most likely to get the most viewers. Since the Jets game had to be moved later away from the Giants game, the fairest thing IMO would have all 3 games at 4:15. But I guess they wanted 1 game with implications early on. As long as the Ravens game isn't before the Jets game it is okay but odds of the Jets being fully motivated are still better if all 3 were at 4.

upstater1

I exchanged emails with Chris Gasper about this earlier this week. He noted that certain questions were asked to NFL officials about the decisions.

I asked him to clarify or specify what the question he asked was. These are Gasper's words as to how they replied: "I asked if there was consideration to moving all three games and they gave me the answer about creating an exciting television arrangement."

Later, Gasper noted that the NFL said they also moved the Baltimore game to maintain competitive integrity.

The way I see it, the Baltimore move to 4 pm increases the level of competitive integrity. But this is not the optimal level of competition, obviously. 3 games would be optimal. Putting the Baltimore game at 4 pm would also be optimal.

Why did the NFL choose an arrangement that was something less than optimal? Well, they gave you the answer already: They want to create exciting television!

So, there you go, when it comes to competitive integrity, the league doesn't have to maximize that criteria. They can have less integrity if it makes them more money.

Personally, I think this week's games are more compromised by the decision than, say, a team throwing a preseason game, or a team lying on its injury report, but the NFL thinks competitive integrity is harmed more when a team doesn't go all out in the preseason or when a team lies on its injury report.

Obviously, the NFL is na backward thinking league.

upstater1

While this is true, I as a fan just don't care if the NFL is maximizing profits. Makes no difference to me. And really it doesn't make any difference to them either if this one decision brings in a few hundred thousand less $$$ than it otherwise would. I just think it's pretty crappy of the NFL not to try to totally preserve the integrity o the game on the field.

stcjones

Well this is my feeling too....good post.....all games with this much riding on it should be played at same time.......Because, If Pats win, and Baltimore jumps out fast against Jax.....Jets have the information available to justify a "laying down" so that the Pats don't get in. This would be pathetic....but I could see it because Man-GINA and the Jests hate the Pats SO MUCH.....and because already I am sure Crackhead Morris, and Cry me a River Shula have probably already made phone calls to Woody (JEst owner) in NY.....FIRST and FOREMOST however, Pats need to beat Buffalo of course...

letekro

Just shoot me. The same argument the OP is making - the Jets will tank because Jacksonville has only a slight chance of winning - can also be made with respect to the Pats-Bills, i.e., if Pats-Bills were on at 4 too, the Jets would still tank because the chances of Buffalo winning are slight.

1. This argument makes no sense.
2. The conspiracy talk is pathetic.
3. The Pats should have won more games. As it is, they have to rely on other, crappy teams to win. That sucks, but it is not the NFL's fault.

jmt57

One last consideration for those few still considering the 'conspiracy' theory. In the NFC, Tampa plays (and will probably defeat) Oakland early. The Bucs need to win and for Dallas to lose, making that 4:00 game interesting for playoff implications in multiple markets.

However, Philadelphia (much like the Jets) is also vying for a playoff position - and need the Bucs to lose to get in. So if Tampa Bay wins, will Philadelphia lose their incentive to play hard? Does this scheduling mean that the networks and the NFL would rather have Dallas in the playoffs than Tampa Bay?

Personally, I don't think so. It just means Dallas - Philadelphis will draw a larger national audience than other NFC games would for Fox. But I also predict some NFC fans will cry 'foul' with the timing of games in that conference.

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alamo

You know, we are truly blessed at patsfans.com to have you present to ask the tough questions like that one, because apparently at no time in the 214 messages in that thread did anyone think of discussing that topic.