Flexible Protection

NBC gets "flexible scheduling" during weeks 10 - 17, sans week 16 (holiday weekend). This means if you were planning on watching a game at 1PM or 4PM between two good teams, NBC will try to take that game from the other networks because they are really desperate for ratings!

The catch is that CBS and Fox can elect to "protect" up to five games during that stretch, no more than one per week. Games that are played on Thursdays (NFL Network starting Thanksgiving), Saturday, or Monday Night can't be taken by NBC so the host networks have nothing to worry about in that regard.

I see four main advantages to this:

01. A game earlier in the day makes the beer drinking situation less invasive on Monday morning
02. You don't have to listen to John Madden
03. Doesn't interfere with HBO Sunday night shows
04. NBC misses an opportunity to promote their horrible prime time TV shows. 4th place, suckers!

The Protection List ™:

All times EST

Week 10

CBS: Jets @ Patriots / 1:00 PM
FOX: Bears @ Giants / 1:00 PM

Week 11

CBS: San Diego @ Denver / 4:15 PM
FOX: Falcons @ Ravens / 1:00 PM

Week 12

CBS: Steelers @ Ravens / 1:00 PM
FOX: Bears @ Patriots / 1:00 PM

Week 13

CBS: Jaguars @ Dolphins / 1:00 PM
FOX: Cowboys @ Giants / 1:00 PM

Week 14

CBS: Patriots @ Dolphins / 1:00 PM
FOX: Giants @ Panthers / 1:00 PM

Week 15

CBS: Steelers @ Panthers / 1:00 PM
FOX: Eagles @ Giants / 1:00 PM

Week 16

N/A



Week 17

CBS: Dolphins @ Colts / 1:00 PM
FOX: Falcons @ Eagles / 1:00 PM



I can't say I would too pissed off if some of the Patriots games on FOX were shuffled over to NBC. FOX is horribly biased towards the NFC and their broadcasts come of as if they resent the fact that they cover the weaker conference while CBS gets the good AFC games. Troy Aikman is good, but Joe Buck sucks (stick to Baseball, douchebag) and Terry Bradshaw is enough enough to save the pre-game show. Howie Long - how long can somebody from Charlestown continue to be such an oaf?

If you have having trouble finding a league-wide schedule that actually has the tentative T.V. coverage listed, ESPN has got you covered.