Patriots vs. Ravens game flexed out of SNF, kickoff to start at 4:25 PM EST

[SuggsBarber]

The NFC East matchups are ratings gold.  That's why, even in years like this, CBS and Fox always protect Cowboys-Redskins from being flexed to NBC.
 
I will be okay with this as long as I still get to watch the game.  I don't live in Baltimore or have DirectTV, so I was counting on this being one of the few matchups I could watch live.  If you think about it in terms of this replacing Pitt-GB as the national game on CBS, it makes more sense.  Now both the national 4:25 game AND the Sunday Night game are meaningful.  This move helps CBS more than it does NBC.

This makes sense. Before the move the CBS national late game was a choice between Pittsburgh/Green Bay or Oakland/San Diego. By the Steelers being possibly eliminated by then and the Packers without Rodgers, if it were anyway they could reclaim a prime matchup(even with a loss the Ravens will still be in it at that game)I'm sure that was the reason they jumped on it.In the big picture kind of view, it won't make a difference. The players aren't whining.

[beanfigger]

Actually neither Philly or Dallas can clinch the NFC East this week and neither Chicago, Detroit or Green Bay can clinch the North. Thus why they chose that game.

 

Though it does make you wonder how they kept Redskins-Giants on SNF yet they flexed Ravens-Patriots out of SNF.

 

Sorry for the double quote.  It's true nothing can be clinched this week for those teams, but I'm pretty sure things could be clinched before Sunday night the next week, however, depending on how the day games go that week.

[I AM LEGEND]

Kinda upset...I feel Baltimore always brings an extra spark in night games in Baltimore. I'm not saying we're undefeated in night games at home..but we bring somethimg extra.

Secondly didnt we beat NE in a home night game last year..? Why not repeat the formula.

But w.e.

People have to be aware that Chicago and Philly are Top 5 markets..and there's a chance that game is Do or Die for both of those top 5 markets. Where as NE is already in. I still think BAL/NE is more exciting...

Some are saying this was CBS getting their "u owe me" from the NFL for taking their protected Broncos/KC game earlier in the season.which makes sense..

I really feel the league disrespected us anyway with the prime-time games this year. And I think a lot of that was due to losing Ray and Ed.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

This is absurd

[beanfigger]

Let's just make the primetime game this week count, then.  It's conceivable that we can, officially, eliminate exactly half of the entire conference with one win Monday night should things play out correctly in the earlier games this week.  How many times does a team have a chance to do that?

[Militant X 1]

And the game vs. the Viking isn't being replayed on the NFL Network at the moment.  They showed the Eagles game and now the 49ers game.  LOL!!!

 

#Mili

[Militant X 1]

I'm okay with that. We already have @ Detroit this week on MNF. The world doesn't need that much us.

To hell with the world!  I need to see that much of us brah!  Smh!!!

 

#Mili

[1/28/01]

And the game vs. the Viking isn't being replayed on the NFL Network at the moment. They showed the Eagles game and now the 49ers game. LOL!!!

#Mili

Well, to be fair, the first 58 minutes was a snooze fest!

[mg90]

I would think recent history between these teams easily lets us hold that spot... oh well I guess.

[T3hRaven]

Yes, NBC has decided to flex the Bears-Eagles game into the 8:30 slot. Our game against the Patriots has been moved to a 4:25p.m start.

You have got to be kidding me, that is not a better matchup. This is a playoff rematch that should have major playoff implications. Ridiculous how disrespected we are.

[PurplePassion824]

I don't understand this but at least I don't have to listen to Collinsworth kiss Tommy's fanny all night.

[jimmypowder]

I like the change .Why? Because I get so pumped up during the games that after the 830 games

I cannot go to sleep . I'm either pissed or elated. .Either way ,no sleep

[JoeyFlex5]

It's just the principle behind it. I am sick and tired of NBC shoving the NFC east down our throats so much. Dallas will never win their week 17 elimination game, because they are about as clutch as well, Tony Romo in Seattle in the Playoffs. The Ravens and Bengals could fight for the AFC North crown in week 17. Yet they will still flex the Cowboys Eagles game in an attempt to HOPE America's team can finally win.

I have felt this way for years now!

 

the nfc east primetime games are just getting RIDICULOUS! its kind of infuriating, I like to hang out, throw a few back with my buds and watch a good, meaningful game on a sunday night, and these NFC east games were all meaningful and very closely contested until about 2 years ago. now these games are most often either a blowout, or a snorefest, full of ugly, sloppy play, stupid turnovers and way too many punts and sacks and incompletions. philly is the only reasonably entertaining team, and I could care less about watching them unless shady is having a big game. the nfl just really wants us to see these bums stumble over eachother every week. I may be exaggerating because im annoyed by this, but I honestly feel like there is at least 1 nfc east team on primetime, 13 out of 17 weeks in the nfl. matter of fact im gonna go check the numbers on that

 

EDIT: http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2013/april/your-nationally-televised-2013-nfl-schedule.html

 

this page shows that out of 17 nfl weeks, the nfc east has a team in at least one nationally televised game(including the nationally televised 4:30 games and thanksgiving) a whopping 15 WEEKS! are you kidding me??? in 5 of those 17 weeks, there is an nfc east team in a nationally televised game TWICE in that week. that means if we watch a game for every timeslot this football season(which I do) we are forced to watch one of these bum teams play 15 out of the 17 weeks, unless our team has the other 4:30 game and were not forced to watch the nationally televised one. you see a lot of western teams on that schedule, but that's understandable considering theyre 4 hours behind, they almost by default should get the home games at 4:30.

 

and sadly, it has been this way for years now.

[Tank 92]

Replaces GB-Pitt. as CBS's national game at 4.

 

 

Now there's two teams going no where.

[flaccopoe]

A lot of fans might not even be able to watch the game, due to the switch to daytime...

[Tank 92]

I like the 4:00 games.  Gives plenty of time to party before, and plenty of time after for sleep before work.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

works out better for the european market, but i do understand the upset for all of you

[Tank 92]

A lot of fans might not even be able to watch the game, due to the switch to daytime...

 

 

And a lot may be able to watch now that couldn't watch it at night.  ^_^

[ravensfan2430]

This is GREAT!  I can go to bed at a normal hour.

[flaccopoe]

And a lot may be able to watch now that couldn't watch it at night. ^_^

True, but I reckon it hurts more people not living on the East Coast who won't receive the broadcast than people who are working on Sunday Night.

[RedFire]

How is B-more a small market when the population in and around is comparable to DC?

When it comes to baseball you can still buy orioles gear in Virginia.

[ratedr]

I don't think I ever seen a team scheduled 3 prime time games in an four week span anyway.

NFL thought that was too much or they just don't like us.

We were just last year. Opened with CIN on MNF week 1, vs. NE on SNF week 3, then vs. CLE on TNF week 4.

[ratedr]

How is B-more a small market when the population in and around is comparable to DC?

When it comes to baseball you can still buy orioles gear in Virginia.

It's not about the city itself, it's about the metro. Baltimore's market is just Baltimore and some of the surrounding counties, plus a little of Southern PA. DC has DC itself, plus the massive populations in PG/MoCo/Charles counties in Maryland, as well as a good portion of Northern VA.

[funky141]

As PFT put it....

 

Chicago is currently tied with Detroit for NFC North supremacy (though the Lions own the tiebreaker), while Philadelphia is currently one game ahead of Dallas in the NFC East. That makes Bears-Eagles a big game.

 

That is why we were flexed out. If we were any better and a high playoff seeding was on the line this game wouldn't have been flexed out. Though I highly expect Ravens-Bengals to come down to Week 17 and be flexed into SNF so that will make up for this.

This...

[Footman DCXLV]

This was shocking news to me today. Ravens-Patriots has been the single best rivalry in the NFL over the last few years. Better than Baltimore-Pittsburgh, better than Brady-Manning, and better than any of the NFC North/East rivalries that never live up to their hype. More shocking is that, in the "QB-driven league," Nick Foles and Josh McCown are getting the nod over Brady and the guy who just won Super Bowl MVP.

 

I'd like to think we'll get that final game against Cincy flexed up in return, but they won't know if the game will be for the division until the end of week 16, which will be after the deadline to flex that game. 

[Bltravens]

I can't believe it was flexed for Philly/Chicago.  Both those teams are in essentially the exact same spot we are and neither of them have been to the playoffs in about 3 or 4 years.  And all have been 1 and done if I recall correctly.  

NE/Balt has almost surpassed Balt/Pitt as the most intense and meaningful rivalry in the NFL the last 3 years.

[1/28/01]

I can't believe it was flexed for Philly/Chicago. Both those teams are in essentially the exact same spot we are and neither of them have been to the playoffs in about 3 or 4 years. And all have been 1 and done if I recall correctly.

NE/Balt has almost surpassed Balt/Pitt as the most intense and meaningful rivalry in the NFL the last 3 years.

This

[hawkprey]

I can't believe it was flexed for Philly/Chicago.  Both those teams are in essentially the exact same spot we are and neither of them have been to the playoffs in about 3 or 4 years.  And all have been 1 and done if I recall correctly.  

NE/Balt has almost surpassed Balt/Pitt as the most intense and meaningful rivalry in the NFL the last 3 years.

It's like cancelling the Super Bowl for the puppy bowl.

[Bltravens]

It's like cancelling the Super Bowl for the puppy bowl.

Lol what a joooooooooooke NFL.

I hope Bears/Eagles is a real stinker.

[Tank 92]

This is nothing more than analyzing data and flexing to the game they think will get the highest rating.  Stop acting like the NFL just kicked your dog.