OT - Lions/Saints moved to SNF
With as much fun as us long suffering Lions fans had with the Monday Night Football experience against the Bears earlier this season, we'll now have a Sunday Night Football game to compare it to, albeit on the road vs. New Orleans. Still, to have a Michaels/Collinsworth team calling the game is better than Fox's Buck/Aikman duo any day of the week in my opinion...
November 21st, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
Did the existing SNF game get booted out? Or do they always wait to determine what the SNF game is?
November 21st, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
It was originally going to be Colts-Pats.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:17 PM ^
so the nation would rather watch two teams competing for playoff spots than the frontrunner of the #suckforluck campaign?
November 21st, 2011 at 1:30 PM ^
.....is on that night too.
November 21st, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
if this were 10 years ago, i'd probably pick that game over the lions. but the lions are having their best season in a looong time and there's plenty of hockey left.
November 21st, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^
Unfortuantly that's the rivalry that just isn't anymore. I still go back and watch some of the clips from the 90's just for fun, really really miss those days.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^
#missinforgriffin looks like it might be a much wiser strategy at this point.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:51 PM ^
It's what the NFL calls flex games and this was one of them. it was created in 2006
Flexible Scheduling
Implemented in 2006, flexible scheduling allows teams to play their way onto the Sunday night schedule
The season again will utilize "flexible scheduling" in Weeks 10-15 and 17.
In Weeks 10-15, 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. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights.
A flexible scheduling move would be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the change will be announced no later than six days before the game. The schedule does not list a Sunday night game in Week 17, but an afternoon game with playoff implications will be moved to that time slot to conclude the season.
The Christmas night game between the Bears and Packers in Week 16 will not be flexed. Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and give "surprise" teams a chance to play their way into primetime.
NFL Flexible Scheduling 101
- Begins Sunday of Week 11
- In effect during Weeks 11-17
- 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, Saturday 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 4:15 p.m. ET.
- Week 17 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 17) 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
Source NFL.com
November 21st, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
they booted out colts pats
November 21st, 2011 at 1:08 PM ^
who dat say they gonna beat them saints?
certainly not detroit.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
.
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November 21st, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
So, the Lions' next two games on national TV are against undefeated GB and at 7-3 NO. The schedule-makers aren't really doing the Lions much of a favor here. The only good thing is that if they can somehow pull off the upset, the old film of Alex Karras sacking Bart Starr in the 1962 game that Bob Costas already mentioned last night will be great to watch.
Also, if they can win one of them, it might make them more attractive for national games in the future.
November 21st, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
Dear Lions,
Please win this game
Sincerely,
Concerned Falcons fan who cheers for Detroit in all other games.
November 21st, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^
The Lions and Falcons could be competing for a wild-card spot. A Detroit win helps you in the division, but if the Saints still get the division you will be wishing the Lions lost that game.
November 21st, 2011 at 3:57 PM ^
I guess the tie-breakers there are that I still have some hope with us winning the division(our schedule from here on out is about as easy as can be expected, especially with Houston losing Schaub) and that, as someone who grew up in large part in Michigan, I tend to root for Detroit teams when not playing the Falcons or Braves.
November 21st, 2011 at 2:11 PM ^
Also, I just checked the Lions schedule, and two weeks after the NOLA game, the Lions have a Saturday (Christmas Eve) home game against San Diego. Could be a huge game for both teams.
November 21st, 2011 at 5:12 PM ^
The Lions can be in prime time multiple times in a season. I like where this is headed...
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:28 PM ^
Go blue