The NFL today announced the full Week 15 TV schedule, revealing that the Ravens-Chargers game will remain on NBC's "Sunday Night Football" on Dec. 18 (NFL). The NFL "was considering" flexing the late afternoon Patriots-Broncos game into the primetime slot. But CBS, which is airing the game from Denver, "successfully fought the switch" (DENVERPOST.com, 12/7).
A flex scheduling decision typically "must be made 12 days before the game on whether or not it will be flexed, but after a great deal of debate the NFL decided to extend the deadline for a decision until today." Patriots Owner Robert Kraft was "fighting to keep the game on CBS for a couple of reasons: first, was the interest of his team and the difference between returning home from Denver around 2 a.m. Monday or 6 a.m. Monday ... second, the Kraft Group/Patriots also have business interests with CBS, the network that gets to keep the game" (BOSTON.com, 12/7).
Newsday’s Neil Best tweeted, “Key point: Flex scheduling wasn't created to give NBC best possible game. It was designed to avoid stinkers. Ravens-Chargers not a stinker.”
