Flexible scheduling: Why your favorite NFL team's game may be moved before the end of the season
Just because your favorite NFL team's game is scheduled for a certain time, that doesn't mean it has to stay there during the final weeks of the season.
The Cincinnati Bengals' Dec. 12 game against the San Francisco 49ers at Paul Brown Stadium was flexed to 4:25 p.m. by CBS.
In addition, the Cleveland Browns' Week 15 game against the Las Vegas Raiders was set for Saturday, Dec. 18. The game was one of two that could have been moved to Saturday. New England and Indianapolis is the other game.
The Browns will host the Raiders at 4:30 p.m. and the game will be on NFL Network as well as WOIO (Channel 19) in Cleveland. The Patriots and Colts will play at 8:20 p.m.
Here are the NFL's official rules on flex scheduling.
NFL flexible scheduling rules
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Information taken from nfl.com)
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.
The majority of games on Sundays will be listed at 1 p.m. 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.
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. 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.
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.
There is a limit on the number of prime-time games an NFL team can have a season
According to NFL scheduling rules, teams can have up to five primetime games scheduled. They are allowed six total in a season if they are flexed and can have seven if they are also flexed into a season finale primetime game.
Could the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Bengals game be flexed?
No, because the Chiefs had five games already scheduled, and were flexed this week to primetime. The Bengals play them in Week 17. So the only way that can be flexed is if Kansas City's game with the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 16 is moved.
Could the Bengals vs. Browns game in Week 18 be flexed?
Yes.
The Cincinnati Bengals final six games of the 2021 season
Dec. 5 - Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 12 - San Francisco at Cincinnati 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 19 - Cincinnati at Denver 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 26 - Baltimore at Cincinnati 1 p.m. (CBS)
Jan. 2 - Kansas City at Cincinnati 1 p.m (CBS)
Jan 9 - Cincinnati at Cleveland 1 p.m. (CBS)
The Cleveland Browns final six games of the 2021 season
Dec. 12 - Baltimore at Cleveland 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 18 - Oakland at Cleveland 4:30 p.m. (NFL Network)
Dec. 25- Cleveland at Green Bay 4:30 p.m. (FOX)
Jan. 3 - Cleveland at Pittsburgh 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Jan. 9 - Cincinnati at Cleveland 1 p.m. (CBS)
Joe Harrington contributed to this story.
Chris Pugh can be reached at clpugh@gannett.com and on Twitter at @chrispughedits.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: NFL flex schedule rules and how they impact Bengals, Browns
