Broncos vs. Chargers Flexed to NBC Sunday Night Football Week 17
We thought we had it all figured out. We all thought that NBC would select the AFC East Championship matchup between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins as the Week 17 NFL Flex Game for Sunday Night Football. But then the Jets lost, and the battle for which team will “limp” their way into the playoffs gets the national spotlight.
Certainly there are some disappointed executives at NBC and the NFL, as the Week 17 showdown between the Jets and Dolphins could have involved a marquee matchup between two large market teams. But after the Jets loss to the Seattle Seahawks this afternoon, it became a distinct possibility that the Jets will only be playing spoiler in the matchup if the New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills.
Therefore, the pathetic AFC West, which could have an 8-8 team win the division (and claim a playoff spot over another AFC team with at least 10 wins), will take the spotlight in the 2008 NFL regular season finale.
Now that NBC has made their selection, CBS and Fox can choose which games will get flexed from an early game time to their late featured game. (We will update this post when that information is available).
UPDATE 12/22/2008: The Miami Dolphins at New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens were moved to 4:15 PM ET on CBS, and the Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles was moved to 4:15 PM ET on Fox.
Anyone disagree with the decisions?
Tags: NFL, NFL Flex Schedule
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December 21st, 2008 at 11:14 pm
They had no choice. What a joke it would have been if Patriots win and Ravens win… It had to be Broncos and Chargers. It will be a good game and it doesn’t bother me at all if an 8-8 team wins the AFC West and gets into the playoffs over a 10 win or even 11 win team. That is why they have divisions. Otherwise, it would just be the same as the NBA set up which cut down on the number of possible playoff hopefuls at the end of the season.
December 21st, 2008 at 11:39 pm
The Broncos and Chargers don’t need any help from other teams to determine whether they are going to the playoffs, so even though the winner of this game will likely lose to the Colts at home in the first round of the playoffs the following weekend, I feel this is the best game to move to Sunday night. That, and also considering in the end of December, you are much more comfortable at night in San Diego than in East Rutherford.
The Jets need help to get into the playoffs. So do the Patriots. The Ravens play 5-10 Jacksonville at home, so that is not a game I would broadcast to a national audience, even though the Ravens don’t need any help to get into the playoffs.
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:29 am
I agree with the pick of this game. I think that if the Jets could have, ya know won a west coast game this year, then they would be the night game. Anyone here anything on the rest of the weeks schedule yet. I am interested to see who gets moved to 3:15. Ya think FOX is happy at all that they got the Cowboys with a chance to make the playoffs in TO’s old home?
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Just got word that the Ravens vs. Jaguars was moved to 4:15 pm on CBS. Waiting on official word from the NFL and info on the other games that are sure to be moved.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I sure hope that the Cowboys – Eagles gets moved to 4:15 on FOX. That way it’ll be the Dolphins – Jets at 1:00, that game, and the Sunday nighter, a good day of football.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
It is a very good choice. The Chargers were pre season favorites who have been involved in some very close games….some have been decided on the last play of the game, or thanks to bad referring throughout the year. The Chargers are explosive on offense and the defense has improved under Ron Rivera. We now are just starting to see his influence on that Charger’s D. The Bronco’s have owned the AFC West all year long thanks to Ed Hocule’s call, and it it really appropriate that these two teams will meet in week 17’s finale.
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Well I am not surprised FOX moved dallas-philly to 3:15 and CBS moved the jacksonville-baltimore and fins-jets to 3:15. They had to move 2 games because the only west coast game they had was denver-san diego which NBC got flexed. So I would assume that will mean all the rest of the weeks games are at noon.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
they should have picked Lions at Packers. its a historical game, Lions could go 0-16, first team in history. who cares about the playoffs?
December 24th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
so what if an 8-8 team goes to the play off. if the other teams can’t eliminate an 8-8 team then what does that say about the teams in the Playoff? Why do we need WildCars spots than? Its football and like its been said time and time again… ‘On any given Sunday’