As the NFL season progresses, the possibility of more flex scheduling for Monday night games has emerged as fans anticipate exciting matchups. Troy Aikman recently shared his thoughts on this during an appearance on a popular podcast, highlighting how much better the games have become on “Monday Night Football” now that the league permits flex scheduling. Aikman stated, “We’re getting good games.” This change is significant, especially since last season was the first time the NFL could flex a Monday game, which only happened once when the league swapped out a Chiefs-Patriots game for Eagles-Seahawks in Week 15.
Looking ahead, flex scheduling can’t kick in until Week 12, but already there are discussions about potential matchups getting the boot. Aikman mentioned one game that could be a candidate for this adjustment: Cleveland at Denver, scheduled for Week 13 on December 2. With the Browns struggling at 1-4, it’s easy to imagine the league wanting to replace that game with something more appealing.
Currently, there are limited attractive options to fill the spot if Browns at Broncos gets flexed. The Eagles and Ravens are scheduled to meet that week, but the Ravens play on the previous Monday, making it unlikely they would have to play back-to-back weeks. Another possibility is a game featuring Aaron Rodgers and the Jets against the Seahawks, which could draw viewer interest. However, the Thanksgiving week creates additional challenges, as none of those games can be shifted.
When it comes to flexing Monday games, the NFL adheres to three key rules: firstly, only games between Weeks 12 and 17 can be flexed; secondly, only Sunday afternoon contests can be moved to Monday; and lastly, the decision must be made at least 12 days in advance. Luckily, for fans curious about the potential flexibility of the schedule, the NFL won’t need to make a call on the Browns-Broncos matchup until November 20.
