Saints game flexed

[panthers90]

I expect the Panthers Bucs game to be flexed too. I see them sneakily getting the last wild card spot.

[saints4lifeagain]

Delaying the inevitable for 3 hours...

[PanthersATL]

The 1p games are more regionalized.  The 4p games are typically the national "game of the week" for the network.

IIRC, NBC can only flex the 4p games to Sunday night.  And late in the season, both CBS and FOX have doubleheaders vs early in the season when they alternate which network has the national late game and which network has to air ice skating or rodeo re-runs.

More flex game analysis here:
http://sports.morganwick.com/category/football/nfl/snf-flex-scheduling-watch/

[w280sax]

Just now, PanthersATL said:

The 1p games are more regionalized.  The 4p games are typically the national "game of the week" for the network.

IIRC, NBC can only flex the 4p games to Sunday night.  And late in the season, both CBS and FOX have doubleheaders vs early in the season when they alternate which network has the national late game and which network has to air ice skating or rodeo re-runs.

Im pretty sure nbc can flex any sunday game to sunday night.  However, both fox and cbs get to choose one game every week as protected that can't be flexed to night.

[Bartin]

8 minutes ago, panthers90 said:

I expect the Panthers Bucs game to be flexed too. I see them sneakily getting the last wild card spot.

They typically want that game to be a winner takes all game so games earlier in the day don't make the game meaningless for one of the teams.

[goodoleboy]

3 minutes ago, Bartin said:

They typically want that game to be a winner takes all game so games earlier in the day don't make the game meaningless for one of the teams.

I could be meaningless for the Panthers anyway if everything is locked up. Doubt they want to see Cam on the bench for a game they flexed into prime time.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

27 minutes ago, Bartin said:

I don't really understand the reason for doing this. Fox already has NE at PHI in that time slot which will generate a huge audience. Seems like having them back to back is a better move for ratings.

That'll be the game they switch to when the Panthers are up by 30 at the start of the 3rd.

[bigdog10]

This looks like a move by Fox to capitalize on the ratings the Panthers can potentially bring.

Fox likely didn't protect the Falcons at Panthers game the next week (since Green Bay and Dallas play).  More than likely fox protected the Cowboys-Packers game and will lose the Falcons-Panthers game to SNF.  The currently scheduled SNF game for this week is Seattle at Baltimore.

They also may have failed to protect the Panthers at Giants game the week after.  That game could also be moved to SNF if the Giants stay atop the NFC east.  The currently scheduled SNF game for that week is Cincy at San Fran.  

Even in week 16, it is likely Fox didn't protect the Panthers-Falcons game over Packers-Cardinals.  

Fox is looking at the back half of the season and realizing that they may not have an undefeated team shown nationally on their station which would be a bad look for them.  

[Bartin]

Just now, goodoleboy said:

I could be meaningless for the Panthers anyway if everything is locked up. Doubt they want to see Cam on the bench for a game they flexed into prime time.

Panthers at 15-0 with the Bucs needing a win to get in the playoffs would be somewhat intriguing. If the Panthers aren't 15-0 then there is no point in flexing it.

[Bartin]

4 minutes ago, bigdog10 said:

They also may have failed to protect the Panthers at Giants game the week after.

Word from NYG beat reporters via Bill Voth is that game was protected so it can't be flexed.

[goodoleboy]

2 minutes ago, Bartin said:

Panthers at 15-0 with the Bucs needing a win to get in the playoffs would be somewhat intriguing. If the Panthers aren't 15-0 then there is no point in flexing it.

14-1 or better would have home field locked up throughout the playoffs. I doubt our starters would play the whole game if that's the case.

[Spaceballs83]

50 minutes ago, pepaw said:

God I hate the Saints.

Compared to the Cowboys, the Saints fans are "saints".

[O-Ther]

Great news!

Bucs play at 1pm same day, so flexing our game to 4:25pm just saved me some money by not having to go to the sports bar to watch my Panthers.  Wooooo!

[Bartin]

nvm, misread a tweet