I didn’t post this when the schedule came out because it wasn’t clear the season would start on time or would play out the way the schedule had it, but with Week 1 of the NFL season in the books, here are each team’s current number of appearances across the league’s three primetime packages on NBC, ESPN, and Fox/NFL Network for the season, useful for determining what games can be flexed into or out of Sunday night for my Flex Schedule Watch. Recall the appearance limits are six primetime games for three teams, five for everyone else, and four NBC appearances. In the “Flexible” column, a plus sign indicates SNF games in the Week 5-10 early flex period. Note that two games will move to Saturday in each of Weeks 15 and 16, chosen from five pre-selected options each week, increasing the counts for the teams involved; options in Week 15 are BUF/DEN, CAR/GB, HOU/IND, NYJ/LAR, and DET/TEN, while in Week 16 the options are SF/ARI, TB/DET, DEN/LAC, MIA/LV, and CLE/NYJ.
| Team | PT App’s | On NBC | Flexible |
|---|---|---|---|
| SF | 5* | 3 | 1+1 |
| DAL | 5 | 3 | 1+1 |
| GB | 5* | 3 | 2 |
| KC | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| LAR | 5* | 2 | 0+1 |
| NE | 5 | 2 | 0+1 |
| NO | 5 | 2 | 0+1 |
| TB | 5* | 2 | 0+2 |
| SEA | 4 | 2 | 0+1 |
| PHI | 4 | 2 | 0+1 |
| LV | 4* | 2 | 1+1 |
| BAL | 4 | 2 | 0+1 |
| PIT | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| BUF | 4* | 1 | 1 |
| CHI | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| MIN | 3 | 1 | 0+1 |
| DEN | 3* | 1 | 1 |
| TEN | 3* | 1 | 1 |
| NYG | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| LAC | 2* | 0 | 0 |
| ARI | 2* | 0 | 0 |
| NYJ | 2* | 0 | 0 |
| CLE | 2* | 0 | 0 |
| CIN | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| ATL | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HOU | 1* | 1 | 0 |
| DET | 0* | 0 | 0 |
| WAS | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All others | 1* | 0 | 0 |
Hi Morgan,
Thank you for the post. 🙂 It’s nice to have football back, though this morning I will be watching the U.S. Open and then watch football when that’s over.
I will actually start giving some opinions on flex scheduling for Weeks 5 and 6 after the conclusion of these Week 2 games.
As for Weeks 15 and 16, there’s indeed going to be at least 2 of the 5 pre-selected games moving to Saturday. However, from what I have read, it seems that the NFL is still reserving the right to actually move 3 of the 5 games to Saturday. Please let me know if you have read anything that confirms or debunks what I believe to be correct. I appreciate it. Also, I believe that the NFL has to make these scheduling decisions no later than Weeks 11 and 12. AKA 4 weeks before Weeks 15 and 16.
Nice win for my Pack last week in Minnesota. Go Pack Go this week at Lambeau vs. the Lions. 🙂
Thanks for the post! Any opinion on whether Chiefs/Raiders would move to snf week 5 if the Vikings lose this week?
Hi Ryan,
Since the NFL added Flex Scheduling to Week’s 5 through 10, they have only removed 1 game if my recollection serves me right. And they are only allowed to move 2 of the 6 Weeks’ worth of games.
That being said, if the Vikings indeed lose to the Titans and the Chiefs and Raiders both win, then I’d move that game to Sunday Night Football, if I was the NFL.
My current Week 5 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – Raiders(2-0) @ Chiefs(2-0) <—due to this matchup being on SNF in Week 11, hmm…there's been times we get both matchups though
#2 – Bills(2-0) @ Titans(2-0)
#3 – Colts(1-1) @ Browns(1-1)
#4 – Rams(2-0) @ Redsk…(1-1)
Tentative game is – Vikings(0-2) @ Seahawks(2-0)
My current Week 6 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – Rams(2-0) @ 49ers(1-1) <—the tentative game and likely to stay no matter what
#2 – My Packers(2-0) @ Buccaneers(1-1)
#3 – Browns(1-1) @ Steelers(2-0)
Current Records for Tentative Week 7 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Buccaneers(1-1) @ Raiders(2-0) <—looking good to stay
Current Records for Tentative Week 8 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Cowboys(1-1) @ Eagles(0-2) <—will stay even if both don't win another game before the matchup. Sadly. Morgan is right though.
Current Records for Tentative Week 9 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Saints(1-1) @ Buccaneers(1-1) <—likely no change due to the old fart QB matchup from Week 1
Current Records for Tentative Week 10 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Ravens(2-0) @ Patriots(1-1) <—should be going nowhere
Current Records for Tentative Week 11 Sunday Night Football matchup(start of the main flex period):
Chiefs(2-0) @ Raiders(2-0) <—looking strong
Current Records for Tentative Week 12 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Bears(2-0) @ Packers(2-0) <—strong and Thanksgiving weekend means less chance
Current Records for Tentative Week 13 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Broncos(0-2) @ Chiefs(2-0) <—Broncos could doom this game, especially with Lock out at QB
Current Records for Tentative Week 14 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Steelers(2-0) @ Bills(2-0) <—I like a Dec. 13th SNF game in Buffalo (brrrrr….)
Current Records for Tentative Week 15 Sunday Night Football matchup:
49ers(1-1) @ Cowboys(1-1) <—Cowboys means no moving this, plus some good games are going to move to Saturday, lessening the chances even more of a flex
Current Records for Tentative Week 16 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Titans(2-0) @ Packers(2-0) <—looking good, plus some good games are going to move to Saturday, lessening the chances even more of a flex
No tentative game for Week 17 & scheduled games are:
Dolphins(0-2) @ Bills(2-0)
Jets(0-2) @ Patriots(1-1)
Ravens(2-0) @ Bengals(0-2)
Steelers(2-0) @ Browns(1-1)
Jaguars(1-1) @ Colts(1-1)
Titans(2-0) @ Texans(2-0)
Chargers(1-1) @ Chiefs(2-0)
Raiders(2-0) @ Broncos(0-2)
Cowboys(1-1) @ Giants(0-2)
Redski…(1-1) @ Eagles(0-2)
Packers(2-0) @ Bears(2-0)
Vikings(0-2) @ Lions(0-2)
Saints(1-1) @ Panthers(0-2)
Falcons(0-2) @ Buccaneers(1-1)
Cardinals(2-0) @ Rams(2-0)
Seahawks(2-0) @ 49ers(1-1)
Hey Morgan and others, any comments yet? Hope to hear from you soon and Go Pack
Go this coming Sunday Night Football in Saints-land. 🙂
Went through this quickly:
There is ZERO chance of ANY Games in Weeks 5-10 of being flexed out. Sames for Weeks 11-12 as of now.
The ONLY candidate of a Flex-out is Week 13 with Broncos-Chiefs. Rams-Cardinals as of now would be the most likely candidate to move to the late slot.
Otherwise, too early to tell.
Still think the final Sunday of the regular season should be re-structured to how it’s done in most pro sports leagues worldwide (including MLB here) where ALL games in each conference are played simultaneously with ALL games split up between ALL of the broadcast partners with games in one conference at 3:00 and the other at 8:15 PM ET (8:15 specifically to accommodate 60 Minutes on CBS) in the following manner:
Top Game in each time slot airs on NBC
Games 2-3 are split between CBS and FOX
Game 4 airs on ABC
Game 5 airs on ESPN (simulcast on LivWell, ABC’s DT-2 Channel or LAFF, ABC’s DT-3 Channel and in some cases on secondary stations owned by those who own local ABC station)
Game 6 airs on NFL Network (simulcast EITHER on MOVIES, FOX’s DT-2 Channel OR BUZZR, FOX’s DT-4 Channel and on secondary stations owned by those who own FOX affiliate)
Games 7-8 are split and air on CBSSN and FS1 (CBSSN game also on DECADES, CBS’s DT-2 Channel, FS1 game also on EITHER MOVIES or BUZZR and on secondary stations owned by those who own CBS or FOX stations).
That is how you do the final Sunday.
I have an opinion of mine what could be flexed out. I am aware that only two games between weeks 5 through 10 of SNF are allowed being flexed out, but even though the Philadelphia Eagles are not playing good football so far this season, what they can do is flex out the Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles SNF on week 8 game and move the Packers vs. Vikings game at Lambeau Field on SNF week 8 this season and in that way, Green Bay Packers can have 6 prime time appearances this season. That’s my opinion.
Week 5 DEN vs NE has been flexed from 1pm ET to 4:25pm ET.
MIN vs SEA on SNF will not be moved.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/broncos-at-patriots-start-time-changed-nfl-to-flex-week-5-matchup-to-a-later-kickoff/
I agree with the Vikings vs. Seahawks game on week 5 stays on SNF NBC next month. Eagles vs. Cowboys should be flexed out of SNF week 8 due to Philadelphia Eagles struggling this season since they have a tougher schedule next month since they’ll likely lose against the 49ers next Sunday night, Ravens and Steelers. This is no way Eagles vs. Cowboys game will stay on SNF week 8.
I just checked out nflcommunications.com and confirm what Joe posted earlier. It makes zero sense to me why we get this crappy Vikings – Seahawks game for Sunday Night Football in Week 5, but whatever. What’s the point of flex scheduling if they can’t get rid of these mismatches.
Oh well, I will offer up my final Week 5 preferences and Week 6 and beyond tomorrow night. 4 a.m. Pacific comes early to get up for work. Time for bed.
Later all. 🙂
They should flex Cowboys Eagles out for Pats Bills on Sunday November 1…. I think the nfl could go for that one since it involves the Pats, plus Buffalo always brings in solid ratings, it would make up for the loss of the “Cowboys draw”
Hi all,
Since the NFL added Flex Scheduling to Week’s 5 through 10, they have only removed 1 game if my recollection serves me right. And they are only allowed to move 2 of the 6 Weeks’ worth of games.
My current Week 5 preferences for Sunday Night Football are(even though the NFL decided to keep the SNF game the same):
#1 – Bills(3-0) @ Titans(3-0)
#2 – Raiders(2-1) @ Chiefs(3-0)
#3 – Colts(2-1) @ Browns(2-1)
Game selected & was the tentatve – Vikings(0-3) @ Seahawks(3-0)
My current Week 6 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – Rams(2-1) @ 49ers(2-1) <—the tentative game and likely to stay no matter what
#2 – My Packers(3-0) @ Buccaneers(2-1)
#3 – Browns(2-1) @ Steelers(3-0)
My current Week 7 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – Buccaneers(2-1) @ Raiders(2-1) <—looking good to stay
#2 – Steelers(3-0) @ Ravens(2-1)
#3 – 49ers(2-1) @ Patriots(2-1)
#4 – Seahawks(3-0) @ Cardinals(2-1)
Current Records for Tentative Week 8 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Cowboys(1-2) @ Eagles(0-2-1) <—will stay even if both don't win another game
before the matchup. Sadly. Morgan is right though.
Current Records for Tentative Week 9 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Saints(1-2) @ Buccaneers(2-1) <—likely no change due to the old fart QB matchup
from Week 1
Current Records for Tentative Week 10 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Ravens(2-1) @ Patriots(2-1) <—should be going nowhere
Current Records for Tentative Week 11 Sunday Night Football matchup(start of the main flex period):
Chiefs(3-0) @ Raiders(2-1) <—looking strong
Current Records for Tentative Week 12 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Bears(3-0, smoke and mirrors) @ Packers(3-0) <—strong and Thanksgiving weekend
means less chance
Current Records for Tentative Week 13 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Broncos(0-3) @ Chiefs(3-0) <—Broncos could doom this game, especially with Lock
out at QB……might as well just flex it OUT now…lol
Current Records for Tentative Week 14 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Steelers(3-0) @ Bills(3-0) <—I like a Dec. 13th SNF game in Buffalo (brrrrr….)
Current Records for Tentative Week 15 Sunday Night Football matchup:
49ers(2-1) @ Cowboys(1-2) <—Cowboys means no moving this, plus some good
games are going to move to Saturday, lessening the chances even more of a flex
Current Records for Tentative Week 16 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Titans(3-0) @ Packers(3-0) <—looking good, plus some good games are going to
move to Saturday, lessening the chances even more of a flex
No tentative game for Week 17 & scheduled games are:
Dolphins(1-2) @ Bills(3-0)
Jets(0-3) @ Patriots(2-1)
Ravens(2-1) @ Bengals(0-2-1)
Steelers(3-0) @ Browns(2-1)
Jaguars(1-2) @ Colts(2-1)
Titans(3-0) @ Texans(0-3)
Chargers(1-2) @ Chiefs(3-0)
Raiders(2-1) @ Broncos(0-3)
Cowboys(1-2) @ Giants(0-3)
Redski…(1-2) @ Eagles(0-2-1)
Packers(3-0) @ Bears(3-0)
Vikings(0-3) @ Lions(1-2)
Saints(1-2) @ Panthers(1-2)
Falcons(0-3) @ Buccaneers(2-1)
Cardinals(2-1) @ Rams(2-1)
Seahawks(3-0) @ 49ers(2-1)
Hey Morgan and others, any comments yet? Hope to hear from you soon and Go Pack
Go this coming Monday Night Football in Lambeau vs. the chokin Falcons. ?
Week 4 just got 1 game rescheduled Titans/Steelers. That game is likely being moved to week 7. Which means Ravens/Steelers could be bumped back to week 8. Making that an option to be flexed as well.
Hi all,
Since the NFL added Flex Scheduling to Week’s 5 through 10, they have only removed 1 game if my recollection serves me right. And they are only allowed to move 2 of the 6 Weeks’ worth of games.
My current Week 6 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – My Packers(4-0) @ Buccaneers(3-1)
#2 – Browns(3-1) @ Steelers(3-0)
#3 – Rams(3-1) @ 49ers(2-2) <—the tentative game and still SNF, as there were no schedule changes per nflcommunications.com
#4 – Bears(3-1) @ Panthers(2-2)
My current Week 7 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – Steelers(3-0) @ Titans(3-0) <—don't think the NFL is looking to do the Titans any favors at the moment
#2 – Buccaneers(3-1) @ Raiders(2-2) <—looking good to stay
#3 – Seahawks(4-0) @ Cardinals(2-2)
#4 – 49ers(2-2) @ Patriots(2-2)
#5 – Panthers(2-2) @ Saints(2-2
My current Week 8 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – Steelers(3-0) @ Ravens(3-1)
#2 – 49ers(2-2) @ Seahawks(4-0)
#3 – Patriots(2-2) @ Bills(4-0)
#4 – Raiders(2-2) @ Browns(3-1)
#5 – Saints(2-2) @ Bears(3-1)
Cowboys(1-3) @ Eagles(1-2-1) <—will stay even if both don't win another game
before the matchup. Sadly. Morgan is right though.
Current Records for Tentative Week 9 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Saints(2-2) @ Buccaneers(3-1) <—likely no change due to the old fart QB matchup
from Week 1
Current Records for Tentative Week 10 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Ravens(3-1) @ Patriots(2-2) <—should be going nowhere
Current Records for Tentative Week 11 Sunday Night Football matchup(start of the main flex period):
Chiefs(4-0) @ Raiders(2-2) <—looking strong
Current Records for Tentative Week 12 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Bears(3-1) @ Packers(4-0) <—strong and Thanksgiving weekend
means less chance
Current Records for Tentative Week 13 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Broncos(1-3) @ Chiefs(4-0) <—Broncos could doom this game, especially with Lock
out at QB……might as well just flex it OUT now, now…lol
Current Records for Tentative Week 14 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Steelers(3-0) @ Bills(4-0) <—I like a Dec. 13th SNF game in Buffalo (brrrrr….)
Current Records for Tentative Week 15 Sunday Night Football matchup:
49ers(2-2) @ Cowboys(1-3) <—Cowboys means no moving this, plus some good
games are going to move to Saturday, lessening the chances even more of a flex
Current Records for Tentative Week 16 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Titans(3-0) @ Packers(4-0) <—looking good, plus some good games are going to
move to Saturday, lessening the chances even more of a flex
No tentative game for Week 17 & scheduled games are:
Dolphins(1-3) @ Bills(4-0)
Jets(0-4) @ Patriots(2-2)
Ravens(3-1) @ Bengals(1-2-1)
Steelers(3-0) @ Browns(3-1)
Jaguars(1-3) @ Colts(3-1)
Titans(3-0) @ Texans(0-4)
Chargers(1-3) @ Chiefs(4-0)
Raiders(2-2) @ Broncos(1-3)
Cowboys(1-3) @ Giants(0-4)
Redski…(1-3) @ Eagles(1-2-1)
Packers(4-0) @ Bears(3-1)
Vikings(1-3) @ Lions(1-3)
Saints(2-2) @ Panthers(2-2)
Falcons(0-4) @ Buccaneers(3-1)
Cardinals(2-2) @ Rams(3-1)
Seahawks(4-0) @ 49ers(2-2)
Hey Morgan and others, any comments yet? Hope to hear from you soon and Go Pack
Go on their Bye week this week in Week 5. 🙂
Brian:
No way Cowboys-Eagles gets flexed out Week 8. NFC East is such a trainwreck that six wins may be enough to take that division (and strengthens the argument to go to NBA-style playoff seeding, especially since only the team with the best record in each conference now gets a first-round bye). The division is SO BAD that if they wake up, you could see the GIANTS — a team that is 0-4 and looks like they could go 0-16 at the moment — actually get flexed IN later this season solely because the NFC East is THAT BAD. Most likely game if that happened would be Week 13 when they play in Seattle against the Seahawks where say a 4-8 Giants team actually is only half a game back of the 4-7-1 Eagles for first. That is how much of a joke the NFC East is this year.
And before anyone says anything, I would just using that Giants-Seahawks game as an example of how much of a trainwreck the NFC East really is.
I meant to say “I would note I’m just using Giants-Seahawks game as an example of how much of a trainwreck the NFC East really is.”
Week 5’s Broncos @ Patriots has been postponed and will not be played this week and this will now serve as the Bye week for each team. That game was originally in the early slot and then moved to the late slot (after Week 2 I believe), then moved to Monday night for a 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific start on ESPN. Now, we’ll just see when it gets moved to. The NFL says a rescheduled time and date should be coming soon.
Hi all,
Since the NFL added Flex Scheduling to Week’s 5 through 10, they have only removed 1 game if my recollection serves me right. And they are only allowed to move 2 of the 6 Weeks’ worth of games.
My current Week 7 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – Steelers(3-0) @ Titans(3-0) <—don't think the NFL is looking to do the Titans any favors at the moment, plus the Titans still play tomorrow
#2 – Buccaneers(3-2) @ Raiders(3-2) <—looking good to stay
#3 – Seahawks(5-0) @ Cardinals(3-2)
#4 – Panthers(3-2) @ Saints(3-2)
Because there's a Tuesday Night Football game tomorrow (if all goes right), I will wait to send out my Week 8 and Week 9 preferences tomorrow or Wednesday night.
Peace out and let's all hope that they get the Covid-19 under control in the NFL and the rest of the world for that matter.
Jeff
Hi all,
Since the NFL added Flex Scheduling to Week’s 5 through 10, they have only removed 1 game if my recollection serves me right. And they are only allowed to move 2 of the 6 Weeks’ worth of games.
From looking at nflcommunications.com, there are no more changes to the schedule for Week 7, so Buccaneers(3-2) @ Raiders(3-2) stays at the Sunday Night Football game.
My current Week 8 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – Steelers(4-0) @ Ravens(4-1)
#2 – Raiders(3-2) @ Browns(4-1)
#3 – Saints(3-2) @ Bears(4-1)
#4 – Patriots(2-2) @ Bills(4-1)
Cowboys(2-3) @ Eagles(1-3-1) <—will stay even if both don't win another game
before the matchup. Sadly. Morgan is right though.
My current Week 9 preferences for Sunday Night Football are:
#1 – Seahawks (5-0) @ Bills (4-1)
#2 – Saints(3-2) @ Buccaneers(3-2) <—likely no change due to the old fart QB matchup
from Week 1
#3 – Bears(4-1) @ Titans(4-0)
#4 – Ravens(4-1) @ Colts(3-2)
#5 – Panthers(3-2) @ Chiefs(4-1)
Current Records for Tentative Week 10 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Ravens(4-1) @ Patriots(2-2) <—should be going nowhere
Current Records for Tentative Week 11 Sunday Night Football matchup(start of the main flex period):
Chiefs(4-1) @ Raiders(3-2) <—looking strong, especially after the Raiders spanked the Chiefs this past weekend
Current Records for Tentative Week 12 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Bears(4-1) @ Packers(4-0) <—strong and Thanksgiving weekend
means less chance
Current Records for Tentative Week 13 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Broncos(1-3) @ Chiefs(4-1) <—Broncos could doom this game, especially with Lock
out at QB……might as well just flex it OUT now, now, now…lol
Current Records for Tentative Week 14 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Steelers(4-0) @ Bills(4-1) <—I like a Dec. 13th SNF game in Buffalo (brrrrr….)
Current Records for Tentative Week 15 Sunday Night Football matchup:
49ers(2-3) @ Cowboys(2-3) <—Cowboys means no moving this, plus some good
games are going to move to Saturday, lessening the chances even more of a flex
Current Records for Tentative Week 16 Sunday Night Football matchup:
Titans(4-0) @ Packers(4-0) <—looking good, plus some good games are going to
move to Saturday, lessening the chances even more of a flex
No tentative game for Week 17 & scheduled games are:
Dolphins(2-3) @ Bills(4-1)
Jets(0-5) @ Patriots(2-2)
Ravens(4-1) @ Bengals(1-3-1)
Steelers(4-0) @ Browns(4-1)
Jaguars(1-4) @ Colts(3-2)
Titans(4-0) @ Texans(1-4)
Chargers(1-4) @ Chiefs(4-1)
Raiders(3-2) @ Broncos(1-3)
Cowboys(2-3) @ Giants(0-5)
Redski…(1-4) @ Eagles(1-3-1)
Packers(4-0) @ Bears(4-1)
Vikings(1-4) @ Lions(1-3)
Saints(3-2) @ Panthers(3-2)
Falcons(0-5) @ Buccaneers(4-1)
Cardinals(3-2) @ Rams(4-1)
Seahawks(5-0) @ 49ers(2-3)
Hey Morgan and others, any comments yet? Hope to hear from you soon and Go Pack
Go this week in Week 6 in Houston. ?