Week 17 flex scheduling to protect "certain teams"

[Spider-Dan]

The NFL has announced the flex scheduling for week 17.

- PHI@DAL moved from 1PM EST to 8:30PM EST (SNF)
- BUF@NE moved from 1PM EST to 4:25PM EST
- NO@TB moved from 1PM EST to 4:25PM EST

The first flex is obvious: The Most Important Team playing for the Most Important Division championship.
The second one is to force DEN (@OAK, 4:25PM EST) to play for real; if NE played first, DEN would already know if they needed to win or not by ~kickoff.
The third one is to force ARI (vs. SF, 4:25PM EST) to play for real; if NO played first, ARI would know if they were already eliminated by ~kickoff.

So why the hell is SD still playing at 4:25PM?  If MIA wins then SD has nothing to play for.  Why isn't that game being flexed to 1PM?  It's not because of the opponents... KC has no more to gain than BUF, TB, or OAK.

I don't have a problem with the schedule being the schedule, but this highly selection protection of the integrity of the game gives BAL a huge advantage over MIA while removing DEN and NO's advantage over NE and ARI.  That's BS.

[CF DolFan]

With the last AFC Wild card spot so up for grabs it is very odd that they didn't flex the outcome.

[el diablo]

Just be thankful Miami isn't playing at New England at 4pm this year.

[dolphins4life]

Even if it was moved to 1 pm, as soon as the Chargers knew Miami had won, they would give up

[Dave Gray]

I agree with Spider that selective flexing is an issue, though I do like the idea.  I think they should just do it across the board.s

However, I am not so cynical as to think that teams that are out of it are just going to give us.  Short of resting players, these guys still play.  They are pros, they are concerned about doing their job well.  Sure, there may be a little drop-off, but in general, I still have faith in teams that are out of it.

[Spider-Dan]

Even if it was moved to 1 pm, as soon as the Chargers knew Miami had won, they would give up

The MIA and SD games would end at approximately the same time, so that wouldn't be an issue.

[MikeO]

NFL Players are essentially "independent contractors" who are in business for themselves. Always playing for their next contract and such. So I am not sure you will see most guys "dog it" or "mail it in"......there are cases where a team will mail it in of course. Doesn't happen as often as you think though.  But if they know the outcome of the game has some meaning for some team (even not their own) and the eyes of the world will be watching that game for some reason, they will show up and play.

I don't think SD will mail it in this week, Most of the guys will come out and play hard I have a feeling.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

So why the hell is SD still playing at 4:25PM? 

When was the last time a west coast team had a HOME game at 1 pm?  (or 10 am local)

Your premise is wrong the movements have nothing to do with "protection" or having teams that need help getting help. The reason is to maximize interest in the games.  (Increase viewership).

The 8 pm game, is the 8 pm game because no matter what happens in the earlier games the game will be worth watching.  That is what you want for a prime time game. 

If the NE game didn't move, the Denver game might not be worth watching, (if NE lost first).  If NO didn't move the ARI game might not be interesting.   

If MIA and Ravens win, the KC @ SD game will still be interesting.  (Maybe not to either the fans of KC or SD, but So Fla and Maryland will be tuned in.)

Being the Chargers can't be moved to 1, the only other way to handle this would be to move Mia and Bal to 4.  But that doesn't leave much for the early spot. 

[Dave Gray]

This is an issue I haven't anticipated.  It seem sketchy to make changes that help some teams and hurt others.

[Spider-Dan]

When was the last time a west coast team had a HOME game at 1 pm?  (or 10 am local)

If they can move a west coast game to 8:35PM kickoff local time (as they did with the Raiders earlier this year), they can move a west coast game to 10AM kickoff.

Your premise is wrong the movements have nothing to do with "protection" or having teams that need help getting help. The reason is to maximize interest in the games.  (Increase viewership).

It's the same thing: maximizing the teams that have something to play for, which makes the game interesting.

If the NE game didn't move, the Denver game might not be worth watching, (if NE lost first).  If NO didn't move the ARI game might not be interesting.  

If MIA and Ravens win, the KC @ SD game will still be interesting.  (Maybe not to either the fans of KC or SD, but So Fla and Maryland will be tuned in.)

So what is your explanation for why they implemented the end-of-season divisional matchups in the first place?  I mean, using your logic, 2009 CIN@NYJ (where NYJ is playing to get into the playoffs and CIN has nothing to play for) was still "interesting."

Being the Chargers can't be moved to 1, the only other way to handle this would be to move Mia and Bal to 4.

Or they can move SD to 10AM.  They don't have a problem broadcasting 49er and Raider games from London at that time.

[Dave Gray]

Also, if you're just concerned about eyeballs on the screen, even from a SD perspective, it makes sense to play the game early.  If they play at 4 and Miami wins, San Diego fans aren't going to watch a meaningless game.

Shit...I wish I could watch football at 10 AM on Sunday.  Waiting until 1 blows.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

There is a difference between having a west coast home game at 10 am and having a 10 am west coast road game.

You can wake up at 9:45 am and be in front of the TV in time for the game.  I know season ticket holder for the Patriots that get up a 6 am to make it to 1 pm games in Foxboro.  It takes a while to get to the stadium with traffic, park etc.   

[Dave Gray]

Yes.  This is true.  I don't think you can realistically have a home game at 10 AM.

But, I was just using that statement to refute the "eyes on the TV screen" statement.
They should flex the Fins to 4, though...to be fair to everyone.

[Spider-Dan]

That wouldn't much matter, since a BAL win also knocks SD out.