For the first week of the 2009 Sunday night flex schedule, the NFL and NBC decided not to replace Bears at Eagles with another game, despite the fact that Chargers at Broncos is on the schedule for this coming Sunday — and was not protected by CBS.
For the second week, the league and NBC are standing pat again, with the Steelers visiting the Ravens.
The only protected game for the weekend was Bears at Vikings, which recently was moved to 4:15 p.m. ET. (Arizona at Tennessee also has been moved to 4:15 p.m. ET.)
As we recently pointed out, the best possible alternative to the Steelers-Ravens was Colts-Texans, and the decision might have been a bit tougher given the Colts’ memorable 35-34 win two nights ago, extending their record to 9-0.
Philly and Chicago are bigger media markets, no?
Also, you can’t beat watching Cutler meltdown during the telecast. I think this is a good matchup of two desperate teams.
Go Packers.
Lame, thought they might consider flexing Colts Texans, should be an awesome game.
I do believe 2 of the last three games they have played have been replayed on NFL replay’s 4 games of the week.
Unbelievable. Two better games that are not protected and they stick with Bears vs. Vick?
Puh-lease…
Then again Manning is 19 out of his last 23 prime time games so…
What’s the chance either Bengals at Vikings gets flexed on wk 14 or Bengals at Chargers wk 15? I’m not sure what the games are already set for the evening, but the fact that the Bengals have no prime time games this year makes me think they’ll get moved one of those weeks.
It’s because the Broncos are playing on Thanksgiving, thus they would have an even shorter week.
Football doesnt get much better than Ravens-Steelers. glad they are sticking with that matchup in 2 weeks!
Isn’t their a limit to the number of night games a team can play? The Colts have already played 4 (3 Sun, 1 Mon) and play the Jags on Thurs later in the year.
I thought there was a league rule limiting this and they’ve already got 5 on the schedule.
Why not NYJ vs. Pats?
Haven’t we had enough bad Bears primetime games?
@ Kevin from Philly,
It probably would ahve been Jets v Pats if the Jets would have won last weekend making this weekend a battle for first place…but the Same Ol Jets came to play…
The Colts & Pats BOTH JUST played the Sunday night game and their fans are bitching?? But i shouldnt really be surprised by both those fugazi fan bases
first flex game of the year
Vikings @ Cardinals
Mark my words……..
Its been mentioned already:
3 teams can play 6 primetime games.
twiz, the vikings at cardinals will not be flexed unless miami loses this week, bc the dolphins pats is a much better and potenitoally important game then the vikings cards. however if miami loses this week, then its very possible.
cleanface says:
Isn’t their a limit to the number of night games a team can play?
I thought there was a league rule limiting this and they’ve already got 5 on the schedule.
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I’m not sure if there is a rule for that or not, but you and every other NFL fan should know by now that there isn’t a rule anywhere in the book that applies to the Pittsburgh Refs. They’re exempt.
The rules are that up to 3 teams can have 6 primetime appearances & no team can make more than 4 appearances on NBC. Here is a list of the protected games by each network.
Week 11: NY Jets @ New England (CBS) & Washington @ Dallas (Fox)
Week 12: Chicago @ Minnesota (Fox)
Week 13: Tennessee @ Indianapolis (CBS) & Dallas @ NY Giants (Fox)
Week 14: San Diego @ Dallas (CBS) & Green Bay @ Chicago (Fox)
Week 15: Cincinnati @ San Diego (CBS) & Green Bay @ Pittsburgh (Fox)
Week 16: Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (CBS)
As for the penciled-in games for those weeks,
Week 11: Philadelphia @ Chicago (stayed as I expected)
Week 12: Pittsburgh @ Baltimore (stayed as I expected)
Week 13: New England @ Miami (flexed out for Minnesota @ Arizona if Miami loses Thursday Night)
Week 14: Philadelphia @ NY Giants (should stay)
Week 15: Minnesota @ Carolina (should stay)
Week 16: Dallas @ Washington (I sure hope this gets flexed out, there will probably be a game with more meaning)
What will happen with Falcons-Eagles? Such a huge game for both playoffs and Vick angle but Eagles are scheduled for SNF the following week. If Falcons beat Giants, would SNF grab that game and flex out Giants-Eagles?