Earlier this week, Fox revealed plans for a Week 16 Saturday doubleheader, featuring the Packers at the Bears and the Eagles at the Commanders. However, there seems to be a mix-up in the schedule.
The NFL’s official site shows that these games are set for Friday, December 19. Yet, the individual schedules for the four teams list the timing as "TBD" (to be determined).
It’s puzzling. While many signals point to the games actually being on Saturday, the mention of Friday is strange. It raises questions: Was there ever an intention to hold these games on a Friday? If so, could this be a sign of changing broadcasting strategies?
The NFL has rules under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that allow games to be aired on Friday nights and Saturdays during specific periods. Some experts believe the league might be eyeing these fringe periods for more game slots.
For example, after Senator Ted Cruz commented on the NFL’s shift from traditional broadcasting to streaming, it sparked discussions about new scheduling possibilities. Many wonder if it’s feasible that planning was briefly leaning toward Friday games before switching back to Saturday for tradition’s sake.
As fans, we might soon see more late-season games sliding into those Friday slots, potentially reshaping how we consume NFL action. The way the league navigates these intricacies might just signal the beginning of a new approach to game scheduling.
For the latest info, you can check the Eagles, Commanders, Packers, and Bears schedules.