We've gotten our mitts -- without having to compromise any of our friends at NBC -- on the list of ten 2009 games protected by FOX and CBS from relocation into prime time.
For Week Twelve, the game tentatively set for an evening kickoff is Baltimore at Pittsburgh. The only protected game is the one that recently was moved to 4:15 p.m. ET, Chicago at Minnesota.
And so on the list of Week Twelve Sunday games appears only one game worthy of serious consideration: Colts at Texans.
It's a close call, but given that the Texans host a prime time game on Monday, November 23, our best guess is that the league and NBC will decide to keep the Steelers and Ravens as the prime time game.
Which, of course, means that it likely will be Colts at Texans.
A decision is due by Tuesday, November 17.
Limited options for Week Twelve flex schedule
Posted by Mike Florio on November 13, 2009 8:43 PM ET
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Latest stories in: Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, Pittsburgh Steelers, Top Stories
Latest stories in: Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, Pittsburgh Steelers, Top Stories
wait a min Mike ... I thought that the Ravens had requested the NFL not to schedule a prime-time game against the Steelers. Am I wrong ?
Week 13 flex game: Vikes at Cardinals
I hope anyway since I am going to that game! :)
why do you even bring this up?
with Steelers/Ravens who cares if the options to flex the game are limited?....thats not a good enough matchup for SNF?
for crying out loud...
Arizona vs. Tennessee. One great quarterback and one good quarterback on the rise.
Is that really even a question? I don't think I have ever seen the Texans play, no one cares about them.
ravens wanted a home game since they always were at pit in primetime.
+ this is the full protected list:
CBS
w11 nyj/ne
w12 none
w13 ten/ind
w14 sd/dal
w15 cin/sd
w16 bal/pit
FOX
w11 was/dal
w12 chi/min
w13 dal/nyg
w14 gb/chi
w15 gb/pit
w16 none
Thanks Captain Obvious. You mean there is a decision for the network between showing the Steelers and showing the Texans, and you think that there is some decision to be made there? I mean, I'd love the Texans to get another primetime game, but come on, no way that is going to stack up against the Steelers in the network's eyes.
The Ravens-Steelers game is in BALTIMORE for week 12.
And yes, the Ravens did whine about playing a night game in Pittsburgh, so it wasn't scheduled during the regular season, and likely won't happen on week 16 unless they are flexed out of the spot on week 12 at Baltimore. It also won't happen in the playoffs because the Ravens will be sitting at home.
Ravens - Steelers or Texans - Colts are very similar matchups in quality for those who don't watch the league much. Division games pitting a div. leader against a wild card contender.
But Ravens - Steelers is already a good matchup so I don't know why they'd move it.
I love the Colts, but aren't they already in 5 prime time games this season?
How is this any kind of decision at all?
Ravens/Steelers is one of, if not the best, current rivalry in the league (unless you like the high-flying acrobatic show of NE-IND)....it's an AFC Championship rematch....one regular season game went to overtime last year, and the other was decided by 4 points on a last second (very controversial) touchdown.
So - get the ratings of Steeler fans nationwide? Check. Great rivalry and storyline? Check. Very good chance that it's a close ball game that will keep viewers watching until the end? Check.
PIT/BAL stays right where it is. There's no reason to move it, and it has every advantage over IND-HOU.
"And yes, the Ravens did whine about playing a night game in Pittsburgh, so it wasn't scheduled during the regular season, and likely won't happen on week 16 unless they are flexed out of the spot on week 12 at Baltimore. "
Not just unlikely - impossible. CBS and FOX are guaranteed the rights to broadcast at least one of the two meetings for every division matchup.
If Florio is somehow right, and IND/HOU takes Week 12, then I'm sure BAL/PIT in Week 16 will be flexed (since the current game is Cowboys-Redskins - a dud).
But if Steelers/Ravens stay on SNF in Week 12, it's impossible for the Week 16 game to also be flexed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_on_television#.22Flexing.22_division_games
to favredollarfootlong;
your a dope.
the nets arent guarenteed a 2nd game - thats why nyg/dal was protected even though it was primetime already.
Slow day obviously...this is a non story because why would the network consider moving the steelers ravens game?
Who cares ? It's football. It's on. We'll watch it.
@Hap ...
Who cares?!?
The Steelers have one of the largest fan bases in the country and a lot of us live outside Pittsburgh. So if the Steelers have a Sunday night game, we're guaranteed the opportunity to see it. If they move the game, we're not. I'm sure there are Colts and Ravens fans who feel the same. There's no way the Texans have that kind of fan base.
From a viewership perspective, I'd think they'd leave the Steelers/Ravens game in the primetime spot just because there's a larger potential audience. Yes, we'll watch no matter who plays because we're diehard fans of the game. But a lot of people only watch teams they know--and not as many people know or care about the Texans.
Hey, FLORIO, is the LINGERIE BOWL on NBC's FLEX SCHEDULE???
"to favredollarfootlong;
your a dope.
the nets arent guarenteed a 2nd game - thats why nyg/dal was protected even though it was primetime already."
From the link (that you apparently didn't waste time checking because you were too busy trying to figure out which version of "your" to use - wrong one):
"Within a division, each team plays a home/away series with all three division rivals. CBS and Fox both have the right to broadcast at least one of the two meetings for all division pairings throughout the league. As a consequence, if an intra-division game is scheduled in primetime (Thursday night, Sunday night or Monday night), NBC is not allowed to select the second meeting for their "flex" schedule."
So either Fox didn't get that memo and made a blunder in protecting a game that it didn't need to protect - or can you please show this dope the last time two division matchups were both broadcast in prime time. Thanks.