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Which Games Are Eligible, and How Are Fans Impacted?

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The NFL officially voted to create a flex scheduling system to allow Sunday afternoon games to be moved to Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime for the 2023 season.

In March, the NFL could not pass a resolution to allow the league to move games from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night, but they didn’t have so few votes (15) that the proposal would be tabled until next year.

Instead, they kicked the can down the road to the Spring League Meeting, where they tweaked the proposal to account for some ownership objections and narrowly passed the rule 24-8 — the exact number of votes they needed in order to make the change.

Thursday Night Football Flexing Has 28-Days Notice

Instead of the original 15-day notice period for a decision to flex out a Sunday afternoon game for Thursday night, they changed the notice period to 28 days. This partially accounts for the biggest objection to the proposal, vocalized by Giants owner John Mara, who was concerned that fans who had made plans to attend a Sunday game would be left out in the cold when a game was flexed out on short notice, particularly fans who would plan significant travel to get to the game.

Nevertheless, the Giants voted against it, along with the Packers, Jets, Raiders, Lions, Bengals, Steelers, and Bears. Aside from the Jets, all of those teams have legacy ownership — owners who inherited the team from a longtime owner before the capitalization of NFL teams expanded in the 1990s.

MORE: 2023 NFL Schedule

This may play a role in their decision to protect fans from changes despite the potential gain in profits. Owners who purchased their team for billions of dollars may be more sensitive to the profit they could gain from a change in scheduling.

“We’re incredibly focused on our fans and stay focused on our fans watching the screens, on television everywhere else,” said Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president and chief operating officer of NFL media. “I don’t want to at all think that we’re not going to be sensitive to that. We’ll do our best on how we communicate. And we do that currently as early as we can. We’re appreciative of that. But we’re also trying to balance how we make sure on the other side that we’re getting great games into the right windows.”

There wasn’t much more assurance given on that front, but there was an emphasis on the fact that games had already been subject to schedule changes, and a number of games late in the schedule were marked as “TBD,” so fans wouldn’t be able to make concrete plans about them anyway.

The NFL Was Failing Their Amazon Partnership

The NFL is clearly focused on fans who don’t travel, however. TNF ratings were disappointing last year, which coincided with the first year of Amazon Prime’s ownership of the product, where they have exclusive national streaming rights to Thursday Night Football games.

Part of the reason may have been due to a lackluster lineup of games, where non-competitive games with low stakes populated the lineup. In the second half of the season, this included a Philadelphia Eagles blowout against a non-competitive Houston Texans team, a low-stakes NFC South matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, a tepid Las Vegas Raiders-Los Angeles Rams matchup that counted for little in the standings, and a meaningless Jacksonville Jaguars-New York Jets affair in Week 17.

Thursday Night Football
Dec 22, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Chris Streveler (15) is sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot (91) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL hopes to create higher-stakes or more entertaining matchups with their scheduling fix, though it would mean that CBS or Fox, their Sunday afternoon broadcast partners, would lose out on that exciting game. The NFL indicated that there was no change in their negotiated deals with either of the two networks to accommodate this.

They might still be capable of being “very respectful of [their] rights and commitments to CBS and Fox,” as Schroeder put it, because there are very few games the NFL would be able to flex into Thursday night.

Not Many Games Are Eligible for TNF Flexing

The circumstances are so stringent that the proposal extends the experiment for one year if no games end up flexing out from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night. In addition to the 28-day notice, the flexing can only occur during Weeks 13-17.

The proposal added the possibility of any unscheduled games — marked as “TBD” on the schedule — as eligible for movement to Thursday night as well.

“We’re also trying to balance how we get the best games into the best windows for our partners,” said Schroeder. He said they have a certain performance standard they expect to meet to flex games into Sunday night, and that “We’re going to have even a higher bar for Monday night, and even a higher bar for Thursday night about the type of game we think would merit real consideration to flex.”

In addition to the narrow window of weeks, which could bump the Seahawks-Cowboys matchup in Week 13, the Patriots-Steelers game in Week 14, the Chargers-Raiders game in Week 15, the Saints-Rams contest in Week 16, and the Jets-Browns in Week 17, the NFL will not force a team to be an away team on Thursday night twice in a season.

That excludes the Vikings, Giants, Lions, Bears, Broncos, Jaguars, Buccaneers, Titans, Panthers, Bengals, and Dolphins from playing away matchups in those weeks, though they could host a game.

On top of that, if the Seahawks, Patriots, Chargers, and Saints don’t see their games flexed — something we will know about a month before it happens because of the notice window — they also would be prevented from traveling on the road for a Thursday game a second time.

MORE: NFL Playoffs 2023 — NBCUniversal, Peacock To Make History

Teams are also protected from being flexed into Thursday night multiple times, though a team could be flexed to Sunday night one week and Thursday night another week. Nevertheless, there is a limit to the number of late games a team can play – seven. At the moment, only one team is close to that — the Chiefs are scheduled for six prime-time games.

Even if the NFL finds itself with a plethora of attractive games late in the season that meet that criteria, they will only exercise this option twice all year.

Which Games Are Eligible To Be Flexed to Thursday Night Football?

That leaves the following games as eligible for flexing. Any games marked with an asterisk are games involving an away team who has a Thursday Night Football game scheduled for Weeks 13-17.



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Taylor Swift Is Shown Chugging a Beer on the Jumbotron at Super Bowl 58

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Global superstar Taylor Swift made it to the big game to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. In the second quarter, it was evident that she was having a good time at the Super Bowl after taking a 12-hour flight from Tokyo the night prior.

Taylor Swift Seen Chugging Beer at Super Bowl

Swift’s attendance has been highly anticipated, as many fans questioned whether she would be able to make it to the big game since she had been in Japan until Saturday for her Eras Tour.

Sure enough, she made it to the Super Bowl and was seen making a grand entrance alongside Blake Lively and Ice Spice.

Swift made it back to the States with plenty of time to make it to Allegiant Stadium to support Kelce. After a leg of her Eras Tour, where she performed several nights in Japan, the singer appeared to let loose.

In a box full of friends, Swift was shown chugging a beer with Ashley Avignone. She was shown on the jumbotron and slammed her cup down after she finished her beer.

There was a mix of cheers and boos as Swift was shown on the big screen, and a long pass to Mecole Hardman was the only highlight of the first half for Swift and her friends. The 49ers led the Chiefs, 10-0, late in the second quarter.

On social media, Swift garnered plenty of support from NFL fans.

If you’re hating on her you can kick rocks man she’s the best,” one user posted on X

“The one thing I learned this season is that she is actually fun,” another said. 

“Booing Taylor Swift chugging a beer is so soft. She’s just one of us now and I respect it ,” another posted. 

At the time of the beer chugging, Kelce, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, has had one catch for a single yard. It came on the first possession, which ended up being a three-and-out. The Kansas City Chiefs hadn’t done much otherwise.

They did have a deep pass play to Hardman, which put them in the red zone, but Isiah Pacheco fumbled on the very next play — one that Kelce was surprisingly on the sideline for.

Swift and Kelce have garnered much media attention as their romance has taken off throughout this NFL season.

Swift was able to support her boyfriend at many of his games throughout the final stretch of the season, as her Eras Tour was on a break. But starting on Feb. 7, she went back on the road.

MORE: NFL World Reacts to Unbelievable Super Bowl Trick Play

Despite performing in Tokyo the night before the Super Bowl, she was able to make it in time to support her boyfriend due to the time difference and is having a good time doing so.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.





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What Happened to the 49ers Linebacker?

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The San Francisco 49ers sustained a massive blow during the second quarter of Super Bowl 58, as linebacker Dre Greenlaw left the game on a medical cart.

CBS Sports confirmed that the veteran Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear, ruling him out for the rest of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

What Happened to Dre Greenlaw?

The outside linebacker, who had already been battling past injuries to his hamstrings and calves, left with what appeared to be a leg injury.

And somehow, his left leg looked like it buckled as he tried to trot onto the field with the Niners’ defense.

Greenlaw clutched his left leg in agony before being helped off the field.

CBS Sports sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported that the outside linebacker left with what was ruled as a lower leg injury. He was later determined to sustain an Achilles injury.

Greenlaw was declared out for the rest of the game.

Greenlaw Carted Off in Passenger Seat

Even more noticeable was where Greenlaw sat on the cart.

He ended up leaving not in the back of the medical vehicle but ended up riding shotgun with his leg injury.

One would think that with an injury like an Achilles ailment, medical officials would try to make the player as comfortable as possible before they leave. It wasn’t the case here.

MORE: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

Regardless, Greenlaw was replaced by Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles for the rest of the first half. Greenlaw became the most significant injury of the game.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.





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NFL World Reacts to Epic Super Bowl Intro From CBS

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Super Bowl 58 is here and it’s going to be exciting. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are facing off in the final game of 2023.

CBS is broadcasting the game and the opening was nothing short of amazing. How is the NFL world reacting to the electric Super Bowl-opening video?

Epic CBS Super Bowl Intro Garners Reaction From NFL World

The video, which spanned four minutes and 19 seconds, featured players from both teams talking about the big game and what it means to them. It also featured their families talking about their journeys to this point.

“Amazing intro! Reminds me of my dad! Bravo on the intro!,” one NFL fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter)

Additionally, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played in the background, giving it a near-movie feel. “This was incredible.,” another person said on X. “And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain,” CBS Sports said.

The 49ers finished the regular season as the top seed in the NFC with a 12-5 record. After their first-round bye, they defeated both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to earn their trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Both of their victories came in comeback fashion, including an NFC Championship-record 17-point comeback.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, had a more uphill battle. Entering the playoffs as the AFC’s third seed, they finished the regular season with an 11-6 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens to punch their ticket.

Super Bowl 58 is a re-match of Super Bowl 54 when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-24. The win was the first in Patrick Mahomes career, as he also won Super Bowl MVP. Four years later, the Chiefs have made three more and won another. For the 49ers, this is their first trip back to the big game since.

The game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET with the 49ers receiving the opening kick. In addition to being broadcast on CBS, the game is also being streamed on Paramount+.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.





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