Flex Schedule Possibilities

[That Guy]

NFL | League announces plans for Sunday night games
Wed, 5 Apr 2006 05:58:18 -0700

Barry Wilner, of the Associated Press, reports the NFL plans to hold off scheduling Sunday night games in seven of the final eight weeks to ensure the best games are played on NBC. The league has long wanted some kind of flexible scheduling, but could never implement one until now. For Weeks 10-15 and Week 17, the final regular-season weekend, all Sunday games will be listed with start times of 1 p.m. or 4:05-4:15 p.m. EST. The league must then announce which match will be played Sunday night at least 12 days before the date of the game. The only exception is the season finale on Dec. 31, when the switch must be made no later than six days before the game. CBS and FOX each has the option to protect five games in the seven weeks of flexible scheduling, but can't protect more than one game per week. Week 16 is Christmas weekend and no game will be switched. Unlike in the past, teams are allowed to play in consecutive Sunday night games. To make the system more flexible, up to three teams each season will be allowed a bonus sixth prime-time appearance.