Why the next Browns games vs. AFC North rivals won't be flexed to prime time

The Cleveland Browns-Baltimore Ravens game scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday will be staying put on FOX.

It seems like a golden opportunity to use NBC’s ability to flex their way to better ratings and in the process presumably give football fans a marquee matchup on "Sunday Night Football." No such luck.

They may be significant markets, but it’s unlikely the New York Jets (5-4)-Las Vegas Raiders (4-5) game is tripping anyone’s trigger at this point.

There are but two games that qualify as that in Week 10. The first is the Browns game. The second: the San Francisco 49ers at the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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I won’t go into the reasons why the former is a more compelling event. For those who don’t know: Google is your friend.

For everyone else who knows the forever and irrevocably intertwined histories of the Cleveland and Baltimore franchises, it provides reason to stay up late and call-in sick Monday if the game were to be flexed.

And it will not happen.

And it won’t happen because the NFL has rules. First, they get fans hopes up with one of them:

“For "Sunday Night Football," it may be used up to twice between Weeks 5-10, and at the NFL's discretion during Weeks 11-17,” reads one.

So, wait. There is hope? Right? So, they’re saying there’s a chance?

The NFL giveth and the NFL and TV networks taketh away:

“For "Sunday Night Football" in Weeks 5-13 and for "Monday Night Football" in Weeks 12-17, the NFL will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN) and announce no later than 12 days in advance of the game, which game will be played on Sunday night and which game will be played on Monday night.”

As it stands now, the game, which had been a traditional AFC matchup that would air on CBS in the past, should be considered the marquee game on FOX, a move allowed by the NFL’s television contract in recent years.

Deshaun Watson: Browns QB feels 'very close to myself' as he returns against Cardinals

Twelve days ago, the Browns weren’t telling anyone who their quarterback was going to be, for whatever reason. Quarterback Deshaun Watson’s return to the lineup – even if he did look rustier than the Tin Man in the “Wizard of Oz” – offers a compelling storyline, but no one could have predicted that given the stealth-like handling of the situation.

And no one could blame any network executive for not wanting to take a chance on presenting another Browns backup quarterback being abused at the hands of the Ravens’ defense like what happened earlier this season at Cleveland Browns Stadium when the Ravens throttled the Browns 28-3.

So, in Cleveland and Baltimore, fans will take in that 1 p.m. game. Treat it like a quasi-holiday. The Ravens have already earned respect across the league for the way the team plays and the organization is run. With that respect comes national television exposure. Witness the Ravens’ five national television appearances on the schedule this season.

Browns vs. Steelers in Week 11 won't land on 'Sunday Night Football' either

OK, this week against the Ravens is out. But...but...they can still make Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. There's still time, right?

Not according to one report. The 3-5 Denver Broncos receive the honor of a "Sunday Night Football" appearance in Week 11 on Nov. 19 against the Minnesota Vikings.

That means the Browns-Steelers game in Week 11 won't move to "Sunday Night Football."

After fits and starts, the Browns feel as though they could finally be making progress toward being consistently ready for prime time (anyone tired of watching the Kansas City Chiefs yet?). The proving ground begins Sunday at 1 p.m. in Baltimore.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns games against the Ravens, Steelers won't make prime time