Upcoming Dolphins-Ravens Game Causes Scheduling Controversy
This Sunday, ten NFL games are scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET, including what many are calling the game of the year – Dolphins-Ravens. Despite its high stakes, with the top seed in the AFC on the line, the game has not been moved to a more desirable time slot.
The decision to keep Cincinnati at Kansas City in the late-afternoon window instead of Dolphins-Ravens has raised questions among fans and analysts. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the choice was made in part because the struggling Chiefs have become a more intriguing television draw this season.
While Bengals-Chiefs will be broadcast to 100 percent of the country, Dolphins-Ravens will only reach 70 percent of viewers, unless they have Sunday Ticket for the final two weeks of the season.
Flex scheduling in the NFL aims to showcase the most compelling match-ups in prime time, but the decision to keep Dolphins-Ravens at 1:00 p.m. has left many feeling that the game deserves a bigger spotlight. It’s worth noting that only one game has been moved out of prime time this year, despite the league expanding its flexing options to Thursday night and Monday night.
The decision to play Dolphins-Ravens when nine other games are being played at the same time has sparked controversy and left many feeling that the game is being overlooked. With massive ratings and audience support for standalone games, the scheduling decision has raised questions about the league’s strategy for showcasing the most important games.