North Dakota State, the Jacks opponent on Tuesday, hasn't beaten them since 2015. They have gone two consecutive seasons without losing a game to a conference foe, and the last time someone other than USD beat them was when Denver got them in 2020 - four years ago. On top of these factors from a schedule-making lens, games can also be moved due to other factors such as weather or, as seen throughout the 20 seasons, COVID-19 issues.The Jacks are a juggernaut, having won 20 games in a row, entering the final with a 26-5 record. In 2023, Monday Night Football will be subject to flexing beginning with Week 13. An equal number of games must be cross-flexed onto each network in a season.įlexing did not apply to Thursday, Saturday or Monday games as of 2022. In 2014, the NFL added another flexing capability in “cross-flexing,” allowing games that would have usually aired on CBS or FOX to be broadcast on the other Sunday afternoon network. In Week 18, the league can flex any game into Sunday Night Football for the regular season finale. ET kickoff on Sunday into NBC’s Sunday Night Football and vice-versa between Weeks 5-17. The NFL created “flexible scheduling” in 2006 to give it the potential to move top late-season matchups into time slots that could draw a greater audience. Can games be moved after the NFL schedule is announced? The league begins gathering information from teams in January about what events could cause logistical issues, such as concerts at the stadium or other sporting events at nearby venues. On top of that, they need to be aware of potential schedule conflicts. They also try to make sure teams that play a road game on a Monday night do not have to play on the road the following week. The schedule makers attempt to avoid giving a team more than two consecutive road games at any point in the season, though there are occasions where teams wind up playing three straight away games. Not only do the schedule makers have to figure out where each team’s bye will fall between Weeks 6-14, but they try to limit the number of times a team faces a foe coming off its bye.
Along with primetime games on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays, the late window on Sunday is also typically a spot for premier contests.īye weeks are another consideration. The schedule makers aim to put its best matchups in its best time slots. What factors play a role in creating the NFL schedule? Thousands of computers produce thousands of possible schedules, leaving it up to the schedule makers to then select the best one. The schedule makers also get help thanks to technology. That group includes senior vice president of broadcasting Howard Katz, senior director of broadcasting Blake Jones, director of broadcasting Charlotte Carey, vice president of broadcasting Michael North, vice president of broadcasting Onnie Bose and broadcasting coordinator Nick Cooney. Six NFL executives are tasked with creating the NFL schedule. This matchup was added to the schedule when the NFL moved from a 16-game season to a 17-game season in 2021Įach year, every team either hosts nine regular season games and one preseason game or eight regular season games and two preseason games.Conferences alternate between home and away each season.Matchup is based on division ranking from the previous season with teams that finished in the same place in their respective division facing off.One game against a non-conference opponent from a division that the team is not scheduled to play.Matchups are based on division ranking from the previous season with teams that finished in the same place in their respective division facing off.Two games against teams from the two remaining divisions in its own conference.Rotates between the four divisions in the other conference each season.Four games against teams from one division in the other conference.Rotates between the other three divisions in a team’s conference each season.
Four games against teams from one division within its conference.Two games against each team with one at home and one away.Here is a breakdown of the 17-game schedule for each team: Details on the player and the deal How is the NFL schedule broken up? Bears sign Byron Cowart free agent defensive tackle.