Only one Monday Night Football game has ever been flexed in NFL history, but that number could soon change, as relayed by John Breech of CBS Sports.
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As Breech noted, during a recent appearance on "Pardon My Take," Troy Aikman shed light on the potential for more flex scheduling this season, highlighting an uptick in matchup quality.
"We're getting good games," Aikman noted, acknowledging the league's improved scheduling. "There was a time when I don't know that they could necessarily say that. The league has been fantastic, Roger Goodell has been amazing, and we've had really good schedules, and now, we have flex scheduling."
Last season marked a significant shift when the NFL introduced flex scheduling for Monday games, using it only once. The league swapped out a lackluster Chiefs-Patriots matchup in Week 15 for a more appealing Eagles-Seahawks game.
Now, as the season progresses, the NFL is already eyeing potential candidates for flexing, particularly for Week 13's contest between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on December 2.
At 1-4, the Browns have stumbled out of the gate and are among the league's worst teams. If they continue on this trajectory, it's easy to see why the NFL might consider flexing this game out of prime time. Aikman, who knows the ins and outs of the scheduling process as a commentator for ESPN, mentioned, "We're at Denver... Cleveland at Denver that may end up being a flex, is kind of what it's looking like."
The challenge, of course, is finding a suitable replacement game. The biggest potential matchup that week is Eagles-Ravens, but Baltimore is already scheduled for a Monday night tilt in Week 12, making back-to-back appearances unlikely. The Steelers will be in Cincinnati that week, but the Bengals would need to find some consistency to make that matchup appealing. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers and the Jets are set to host the Seahawks, which could also draw interest if both teams remain competitive.
However, flexing a game in Week 13 comes with its own hurdles, primarily because it falls during Thanksgiving week. None of the Turkey Day matchups are eligible for flexing, nor is the Black Friday game between the Raiders and Chiefs.
When it comes to flexing Monday games, the NFL has three key rules to follow, per Breech:
- Flex scheduling is only applicable for games played between Week 12 and Week 17.
- Only Sunday afternoon games kicking off in the 1 p.m. ET or 4 p.m. ET windows can be moved to Monday.
- Any flex decisions must be made at least 12 days in advance.
Thanks to that last rule, the league has ample time to weigh its options. If the Browns continue to struggle, the NFL will have until November 20 to make a decision about potentially swapping out the Browns-Broncos game for a more compelling matchup.
With all this in mind, fans will want to keep an eye on how the next few weeks unfold. If the Browns can't turn things around, they might find themselves flexed out of prime time — a humbling position for a franchise that's been striving for respectability. Meanwhile, the league will be looking to put its best foot forward in the spotlight, ensuring that Monday nights remain must-see TV.
