On Monday NFL owners approved a new rule that will allow flexing of Thursday Night Football games between Weeks 13-17 during the regular season. Teams must be given 28 days notice.
Here are the full details from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Here are the full details https://t.co/kDNQz0YTvf pic.twitter.com/2R1n0Qu9R6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 22, 2023
There are a lot of good reasons why this is a very bad idea, some of which were raised by opposing owners and the NFLPA. Tom Pelissero detailed some of those concerns, here.
Owners opposing Thursday night flex scheduling raised a variety of concerns, including travel logistics and impact on fans. The NFLPA also was opposed to it. But owners voted it through, opening the possibility Amazon’s TNF schedule could shift once or twice late in the season. pic.twitter.com/50Ed28VvNH
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 22, 2023
As it happens, the Seahawks are already scheduled to play a Thursday night game in that stretch. They’re due to visit the Cowboys in Week 13, one week after hosting the 49ers on Thanksgiving.
Unless both teams have completely tanked by mid-season it’s highly unlikely that this matchup will get flexed out. The Cowboys are a ratings cash-cow for the NFL no matter how good or bad the team is performing or who they’re playing. In any case, Seattle already has two TNF games on their schedule, so they can’t be flexed into a third.
On principle Thursday night games are bad primarily because of the danger they pose to the health and safety of players. Playing two a year is an even greater risk and it will come at the expense of quality teams that have played well enough to be a TV draw – and at a critical time in the season.
