Patriots Ravens flex into SNF (report - EDIT: Confirmed)

[Huckleberry1]

Not sure why they did this game over the Bills game which should absolutely be in primetime. Bills have won this division for 5 straight years. Pats can reclaim the division for the first time since 2019 with a win.

The NFL is clueless.

I think they see the Buffalo game as it's just a divisional game, and the Ravens game one of more national interest.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

CBS/Fox can't protect games after week 12. In the past, they hijacked many good games that should've gone primetime.

AFAIK they changed the rules in 2023, so they each get to protect one game a week.

NFL flex scheduling rules give CBS and Fox more power to protect games

NFL flex scheduling rules have changed this year, with CBS and Fox given more power to protect their nationally televised top games.

awfulannouncing.com

 

[Foxypats]

I am not a fan of evening games. We have to wait the entire day before we see the Pats. I like it when they play on Sunday morning without much fuss and fanfare. Oh well...at least this means that the Patriots are either a huge draw or people will watch the game hoping they fail!!

 

[TommyD4207]

Not good for me. Goes from a 7 p.m. kickoff to ... 2:30 a.m.!

Patriots win by 2 touchdowns. Now you can get to sleep early

 

[n1997y]

Not sure why they did this game over the Bills game which should absolutely be in primetime. Bills have won this division for 5 straight years. Pats can reclaim the division for the first time since 2019 with a win.

The NFL is clueless.

I think CBS protected it. They have it as their national feed in the early timeslot.

 

[TommyD4207]

I think CBS protected it. They have it as their national feed in the early timeslot.

This, although I think they have the doubleheader this week, so they could have flexed it to 4:30 - but I don't think they have anything else noteworthy in their 1pm window.

 

[Tunescribe]

Sounds good, Maye plays well in national games. And it gets them ready for the playoffs.

Teams hate it -- it's like losing a day. It messes with scheduled routines, shortens player recovery time as well as prep time for the next game. All in the name of network profiteering.

 

[brdmaverick]

wonder why this game vs. Bills wasn't flexed instead, Ravens are almost out of playoff contention. That's fine. We're better on the road.

Fully agree. I'd prefer the Bills game get moved (preferably to 4:30) but I suspect this one moved instead because......

Pats - BIlls was already a national showcase game earlier this year
I don't know offhand, but I heard the game that Pats-Ravens replaced was a dud matchup

 

[ViperGTS]

**** it, Pats got flexed out a couple of years ago. It's payback time.

 

[Hawaiipatsfan2]

ugh i hate prime time games and that to at baltimore.

Primetime games are always preferred. Epically later in the season. All eyes are on deck and better crews get assigned. The chances of manipulation go down.

 

[Hawaiipatsfan2]

Did they lay an egg or was that just losing to future HoF coach, Tomlin ? That guy could have ANY job in the league if the Steelers move on. I’m sure you’ve heard about his great feats of being slightly above .500 ! Takes a hero to keep losing in the first round year after year.

He was never a coach. A team coordinator (cheerleader if you will) is all he’s ever been. It’s wildly known he makes no in game decisions when it comes to play calling and never has. He has always been a locker room booster hype man type coach at best.

 

[BobDigital]

Here is an idea nfl....

Be more strict on times. Games start at 1 am on the dot. 4:15 for the next games. 7:30 for the last. Make sure to keep the pace of play good and you shouldn't have issues. You can delay the last game to 7:45 if needed, but no later. Be done by 11, ideally 10:30.

That isn't so hard.

Personally I've never understood the near hour break between 4 o clock games and Sunday night football. Fans don't care about your build up. They will watch anyway and half times give enough of a break.

 

[Pape]

CBS/Fox can't protect games after week 12. In the past, they hijacked many good games that should've gone primetime.

iirc networks can protect one game a week from being flexed...

NFL Flex Schedule 2025: When can the NFL start flexing games? SNF, MNF and TNF flex rules explained

The NFL uses flexible scheduling late in the season to ensure that the biggest games end up in the best time slots.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[pazrul72]

Here is an idea nfl....

Be more strict on times. Games start at 1 am on the dot. 4:15 for the next games. 7:30 for the last. Make sure to keep the pace of play good and you shouldn't have issues. You can delay the last game to 7:45 if needed, but no later. Be done by 11, ideally 10:30.

That isn't so hard.

Personally I've never understood the near hour break between 4 o clock games and Sunday night football. Fans don't care about your build up. They will watch anyway and half times give enough of a break.

Just a personal note I like the 820 start time cuz my kids bedtime is 8. Gives me 10 mins to put him down, hit the bathroom, grab some snacks, and settle in for football. Harder to do when he is demanding attention for the first hour of the game. Wife gets pissed, but football *shrug*

 

[Real fan 02]

ugh i hate prime time games and that to at baltimore.

Same here.. I have to be up at 5am for work.. hate night games.. darn you those 11-2 patriots.. ..

 

[Triumph]

I am not a fan of evening games. We have to wait the entire day before we see the Pats. I like it when they play on Sunday morning without much fuss and fanfare. Oh well...at least this means that the Patriots are either a huge draw or people will watch the game hoping they fail!!

This season has been perfect with all the noon KOs.

 

[Family]

Teams hate it -- it's like losing a day. It messes with scheduled routines, shortens player recovery time as well as prep time for the next game. All in the name of network profiteering.

I don't see the union or anyone else inside the NFL proposing to roll back to all 1:00/4:00 games and accept the salary cap hit associated with that.

 

[Real fan 02]

I don't see the union or anyone else inside the NFL proposing to roll back to all 1:00/4:00 games and accept the salary cap hit associated with that.

NFLPA is the weakest of all the sports labor unions.. they give in to whatever the owners want.. So your correct sir.

 

[Steve102]

Here is an idea nfl....

Be more strict on times. Games start at 1 am on the dot. 4:15 for the next games. 7:30 for the last. Make sure to keep the pace of play good and you shouldn't have issues. You can delay the last game to 7:45 if needed, but no later. Be done by 11, ideally 10:30.

Except the NFL isn't MLB, their numbers aren't declining. They don't need a pitch clock. They don't give two chits about being done by 11pm for us east coasters. All they care about is the money.

 

[Family]

NFLPA is the weakest of all the sports labor unions.. they give in to whatever the owners want.. So your correct sir.

The NBA has a strong union and still plays on Christmas day.

The players even squawk.