According to sources close to the NFL – Detroit will be traveling to Green Bay this upcoming Sunday which was what to be a 1PM scheduled game. This game has been flexed to Sunday Night Football.
If Green Bay wins the game they’ll be in the playoffs. If Detroit wins and Seattle loses against the Los Angeles Rams then Detroit will be in.
Breaking: Per source, this coming Sundays scheduled game between Green Bay and Detroit will be flexed to Sunday Night as both teams have an opportunity to make the playoffs.
— Trevor Uren | TrevStone (@TrevStoneCEO) January 2, 2023
This game could be huge for both franchises. Can Detroit squeeze in to the playoffs after starting 1-6? Or will Aaron Rodgers prove that he still belongs in Green Bay? With this being the last week of the NFL season this game being flexed makes complete sense.
Lions players are hoping that it happens:
Taylor Decker said he hopes next week’s Lions-Packers game gets flexed to SNF.
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) January 1, 2023
“What else could you want?”
In Week 17, in order to ensure a Sunday night game with playoff implications, the decision to move the start time may be made on six days notice.
2022 Flexible Scheduling Procedures per NFL.com:
“Flexible scheduling” will be used in Weeks 11-18. Additionally, in Weeks 5-10, flexible scheduling may be used in no more than two weeks. In Weeks 5-17, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time.
For Week 18, two Saturday games and the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to January 9. The schedule does not list Saturday games or a Sunday night game in Week 18, but games with playoff implications will be moved to those time slots. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and gives “surprise” teams a chance to play their way into primetime.
Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday or Monday nights.
NFL FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING 101
- Begins Sunday of Week 5
- In effect during Weeks 5-18
- Up to 2 games may be flexed into Sunday Night between Weeks 5-10
- Only Sunday afternoon games are subject to being moved into the Sunday night window.
- The game that has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday night during flex weeks will be listed at 8:15 p.m. ET.
- The majority of games on Sundays will be listed at 1:00 p.m. ET during flex weeks except for games played in Pacific or Mountain Time zones which will be listed at 4:05 or 4:15 p.m. ET.
- No impact on Thursday, or Monday night games.
- The NFL will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC) and announce as early as possible the game being played at 8:15 p.m. ET. The announcement will come no later than 12 days prior to the game. The NFL may also announce games moving to 4:05 p.m. ET and 4:25 p.m. ET.
- Week 18 start time changes could be decided on 6 days notice to ensure a game with playoff implications.
- The NBC Sunday night time slot in “flex” weeks will list the game that has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday night.
- Fans and ticket holders must be aware that NFL games in flex weeks are subject to change 12 days in advance (6 days in Week 18) and should plan accordingly.
- NFL schedules all games.
- Teams will be informed as soon as they are no longer under consideration or eligible for a move to Sunday night.
