upstater1

It may be overblown but undeniably it hurts the Patriots competitively. None of us know what effect the time change will have on the game. If the scenario plays out as some of us here, I don't want to hear people shielding the NFL. (i.e. if the Ravens go up big on the Jags, and the Jets give up a lead and let down in the second half, I don't want to hear people defending the NFL).

PatsFanSince74

Fair question!

I think the answer is one word long: MONEY. This is a game that people across the country will want to watch.

The "Chad Returns to the Meadowlands to Take Revenge on the Jets" angle would be enough in itself. Add the small matter of "Does HOFer Brett Favre Have One More Big Game in Him to Go Out on a Wave of Glory?" angle and I suspect it was a no-brainer for the NFL to do this.

In fact, I'd be willing to bet that they would have flexed it to the 8PM slot if the rules allowed.

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jmt57

After having read all the comments in this and other threads on the subject, in my opinion the Miami - Jets game was moved because it has the largest national appeal. Besides two teams in one game for the division title, it has more sub plots that will draw more viewers in than any other game. The Ravens game was then also moved to help insure that this game was still meaningful - because if the Patriots and Baltimore had both already played and won then then the game woul not hve mattered to the Jets.

Like it or not, television and ratings are part of the NFL; this is nothing new, it has been that way for a very long time. For example, sometimes it hurts a team's preparation due to having played a Monday night game the week before a road game. All of these games at 1:00 was not going to happen because of the loss of a portion of the national audience to one of the week's games that would draw the largest ratings. All of the games at 4:00 was not going to happen either due to it causing a loss of some of that same audience. It's about the best compromise we could expect to have.

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groundgame

Leading at halftime in a game in progress is a world apart from the Patriots game that's already over where you have a far better chance (NE losing at Buff versus JAX winning at Balt) of making the playoffs.

alamo

The rules DID allow it, but they decided to flex the SD-DEN game instead.