The Seahawks will host the Packers on Thursday, Sept. 4, in the '14 NFL season-opening game broadcast by NBC, but of the team's four "nationally televised contests in prime time," the Packers game will be the "only one played at home," according to Bob Condotta of the SEATTLE TIMES. Another game "could be added later under the NFL’s flex scheduling policy" (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/24). But PRO FOOTBALL TALK’s Curtis Crabtree cited a source as saying that the NFL “was wary of putting Seahawks home games on in prime-time due to their track record of blowouts in nationally televised games played in Seattle the last several seasons.” The last three times the Seahawks “hosted a prime-time match-up, the games have been extremely uncompetitive.” They beat the 49ers 42-13 and 29-3 "in Sunday night games the last two seasons,” while beating the Saints 34-7 on a Monday night last December. The Broncos, Cowboys, Packers and Eagles “all host three prime-time games” this year, while 15 more teams “host two prime-time games” (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 4/24). USA TODAY’s Chris Chase writes given that Seahawks-49ers is on Thanksgiving night, the Seahawks’ other kickoff at CenturyLink “was almost certain to be in the afternoon,” as the “best divisional home-and-homes tend to be split between day and night.” That leaves “just three more home opponents” on the Seahawks’ schedule that “would warrant a primetime kickoff” -- the Broncos, Cowboys and Giants. Those first two games “are mega-matchups slated for CBS and Fox, respectively.” The NFL “needs to spread the television wealth and splitting the three biggest Seahawks home games to NBC, CBS and Fox is a fine way to accomplish that” (USATODAY.com, 4/24).
THE USUAL SUSPECTS: In Dallas, Brandon George notes the Cowboys are "ratings darlings, and they are yet again scheduled for five prime time games." The Cowboys play on "MNF" on ESPN on Oct. 27 at home against the Redskins. They play on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Bears. That matchup is "the back end of back-to-back Thursday games in November." The first Thursday game is Thanksgiving Day against the Eagles on Nov. 27. The Cowboys are "one of 11 NFL teams to have five prime time games" in '14 (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/24). In Chicago, Rich Campbell notes with "five games in prime time and a Thanksgiving showcase, it's clear the NFL senses the Bears are an ascending team after a two-victory regression" in '13. The size of Chicago's media market "has something to do with that, but so does the Bears' free-agent defensive additions and one of the NFL's best offenses" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/24). In Pittsburgh, Ed Bouchette notes despite back-to-back 8-8 records without a playoff appearance, the Steelers "remain an obvious attraction for prime-time television as their 2014 schedule again contains the maximum of five nighttime kickoffs" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/24). In Indianapolis, Mike Chappell writes it should "come as no surprise" the NFL considers the Andrew Luck-led Colts "an attractive draw." The league "handed them the maximum five prime-time games, including two right out of the gate." After opening against the Broncos in Denver, the Colts welcome the Eagles into Lucas Oil Stadium Sept. 15 for ESPN's "MNF" package (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/24).
LEFT OUT IN THE COLD: In Miami, Adam Beasley notes a year after "getting three prime-time games, the Dolphins were awarded just two, including the one obligatory Thursday night commitment." Schedule-makers "again passed over" the Dolphins for a premium Sunday night game (MIAMI HERALD, 4/24). In Jacksonville, Hays Carlyon noted the Jaguars "got one primetime game, which was a given." Still, it is "disappointing when they got it." The game is Week 16 at home against the Titans on a Thursday. It "would have been nice to separate the home finale from the primetime game, but it's a small complaint" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 4/23).
