Officially, Week 16 launches with a Thursday night game in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars will host the Titans. But the real action gets rolling on Saturday, when the league brings back the concept of the late-season Saturday doubleheader.
One game starts in the late afternoon, and the other kicks off on Saturday night.
The broadcast antitrust exemption prevents the NFL from broadcasting Friday and Saturday games from early September through early December. By late December, Fridays and Saturdays are fair game.
On December 20, the 49ers host the Chargers and the Redskins host the Eagles. Kickoff times are 4:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network and 8:15 p.m. ET on CBS, with an NFLN simulcast.
It’s a mini-flex concept; the league will select the better of the two games for the national broadcast audience. Ultimately, the decision will hinge on how well the teams are doing after 15 regular-season weekends.
For now, the showdown between DeSean Jackson’s new team and his old team appears to be the more intriguing game. That could change by late December.