Tom Brady and the Buccaneers are scheduled to make five primetime appearances this yearGETTY IMAGES
Tom Brady's move to the Buccaneers "caused networks to drastically rework their last-minute requests with the NFL scheduling office to make sure" the team "got as many high-profile dates as possible," according to Joe Reedy of the AP. All of the NFL's TV partners following Thursday's schedule release were "satisfied with how Tampa Bay's games were distributed." The Bucs are slated to make five prime-time appearances (one Thursday, two Sunday night, two Monday night) with all of them slated between Weeks 5-12. Pending developments in the coronavirus pandemic, the Bucs' opener at the Saints will be Fox' featured “America's Game of the Week,” as will the Oct. 18 game against the Packers. CBS will "showcase the Bucs" in the 4:25pm ET window on Nov. 29, when they host the Chiefs. Fox -- which has the NFC and Thursday night packages -- has the Bucs nine times, while CBS, ESPN and NBC each have them twice. The Week 16 game at the Lions "will be on either Fox or NFL Network, which will be determined later in the season." Fox Sports Exec VP and Head of Strategy & Analytics Mike Mulvihill said, "I can't think of a single player move ever that adjusted requests and turned the process upside down as much as this." Meanwhile, CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus was "extremely pleased that CBS was able to retain most of the Chiefs' marquee matchups." The Chiefs will have five games in the late afternoon spot during CBS doubleheaders (AP, 5/8). Mulvihill said, "Tampa Bay is now elevated to a level that you typically reserve for teams like Dallas, Green Bay and Pittsburgh, the really marquee brands of the league. The Buccaneers are now in that category” ("Behind The Schedule," FOXSPORTS.com, 5/7).
LOOKING GOOD RIGHT NOW: YAHOO SPORTS's Frank Schwab noted ESPN has often been "stuck with second-tier games" since taking over "MNF," but it seems like the franchise, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, "was a priority, especially late in the season," with this year's schedule release. It is "hard to deny this is a pretty good 'MNF' slate," highlighted by the Chiefs-Ravens in Week 3. That could be the "No. 1 matchup of all 256 games on the schedule," and it "went to ESPN." Schwab: "Not every game on the Monday night schedule is great. ... But ESPN has to be happy with the schedule it was given" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/8).
NEW & OLD: In Tampa, Eduardo Encina notes the Bucs will play at least five night games and Brady is the "biggest reason why.” The league “wants to showcase its biggest name," and his arrival "seemingly makes the Bucs a Super Bowl contender.” The Bucs have “rarely played at night” in recent years, but the team will “quickly have to adapt to the prime-time spotlight.” In the 14 seasons since “SNF” began, the Bucs have played just twice, but they have at least two “SNF” appearances this year, and could have more based on flex scheduling (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/8). Meanwhile, USA TODAY’s Nate Davis notes while Brady is “gone from New England," the league "apparently believes Bill Belichick's perennial AFC East champs will remain a strong draw given they're again scheduled to play in prime time five times.” However, four of those games “occur after Week 8, meaning the Pats could more easily be flexed away” if they are not contending (USA TODAY, 5/8).
CIRCLE THE WAGONS: In Buffalo, Jay Skurski reports the Bills "officially have the NFL’s attention," as the team is "scheduled to play four prime-time games in the upcoming season." The four games "matches the most in a single season in franchise history," which was set during the Jim Kelly-Thurman Thomas era in the mid '90s. It has been 20 years since the Bills have been "scheduled for more than two prime-time games." Skurski: "No wonder the team changed its name on Twitter to Primetime Bills" (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/8).
OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT: In Indianapolis, Joel Erickson notes the Colts for the second time in three years do not have a game on either “SNF” or “MNF,” and it is “probably a safe bet that part of the schedule doesn't sit well” with Colts Owner Jim Irsay. The team has not hosted a game on Sunday or Monday night since '16, and Irsay “already wasn't happy with the way the NFL made the Colts go on the road for all three prime time games” last year (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/8). In DC, Sam Fortier notes the Redskins do not have a primetime game “for the first time since the strike-shortened season" of '82. Thirteen of the team’s 16 games are planned for Sundays at 1:00pm (WASHINGTON POST, 5/8).
