The NFL made four changes to its traditional schedule for the 2023 season - but Patrick Mahomes has already vented his frustrations at the idea of playing two Thursday Night Football contests.
The anticipated schedule release for the 2023 NFL season is on Thursday. However, the league has already made four key changes to its usual process ahead of the new campaign.
Among the changes to the schedule this season, the NFL will hold a game on Black Friday for the first time while not all teams are guaranteed to play in a primetime contest. Another key change is that television networks are no longer entitled to specific games, with each matchup acting as a free agent of sorts.
Naturally, this will generate more revenue for the NFL, which also announced that teams can take part in Thursday Night Football twice. Teams have only been able to make one appearance on Thursday Night Football in the past, allowing the allocation to be fairly even among the 32 franchises - and Mahomes is not happy with the change.
Amid reports the NFL were set to make the change, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback took to Twitter to post an emoji of someone facepalming. His issue stems from the difficulty of playing on a Sunday to another game just four days later, even with the 10-day rest after the match.
The Thursday Night Football slot has become a talking point since Amazon acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights for it back in March 2021. Their deal lasts for ten years from the 2023 season, and many believe the changes are linked to the lucrative deal.
The NFL will undoubtedly want the bigger and better teams taking part in the primetime games, ensuring more eyes are on the product. After Mahomes hit out at the change, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell felt the need to dismiss fears that injuries are more prevalent when playing on Thursday.
“I don’t think we’re putting Amazon over our players… The data doesn't show higher injury rate,” Goodell said after Mahomes' reaction. “I hear from players who also love the 10 days after a Thursday Night game.
“We have to try to balance all of it.”
Mahomes’ anger is well-placed given his Chiefs are likely to be one of the teams set to play two Thursday Night Football contests in 2023. The AFC West franchise are the reigning Super Bowl champions, while the electric quarterback collected his second MVP award in 2022.
