NFL Expanding Flex Scheduling

The NFL released its schedule on Thursday evening and the Bears, thanks to Justin Fields, have six nationally televised games this year. Thanks to changes in the league’s flex scheduling process, Chicago may have opportunities for additional primetime play.

Schedule release? Yes, Chef. pic.twitter.com/y967k2402T

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 12, 2023

Chicago is slated to play the following games in front of a nationally televised audience:

• September 10 at home vs. the Packers.
• September 24 at Kansas City vs. the Chiefs.
• October 5 at Washington vs. the Commanders.
• October 29 at Los Angeles vs. the Chargers.
• November 9 at home vs. the Panthers.
• November 27 at Minnesota vs. the Vikings.

Their tilt with the Browns at Cleveland on December 17 has a TBD time and could be a nationally televised affair. Flex scheduling is in effect during the following windows per NFL.com.

• It may be used up to twice between Weeks 5-10, and at the NFL’s discretion during Weeks 11-17 on Sunday nights.
• For Monday Night Football it may be used at the NFL’s discretion in Weeks 12–17. This is the first season that the league is willing to flex Monday night games. The Bears could theoretically be reverse-flexed out of their game against the Vikings at the end of November.
• The games initially scheduled for Sunday Night Football (on NBC) and Monday Night Football (ESPN or ABC) are tentatively scheduled and subject to change.
• Only Sunday afternoon games (or those listed as TBD) are eligible to be moved to Sunday night or Monday night, in which case the initially scheduled Sunday/Monday night game would be moved to Sunday afternoon. That means the Bears-Browns game will be under consideration to be flexed, though any Sunday afternoon game could be, too.
• Sunday afternoon games may also be moved between 1:00 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. ET.
• As in prior seasons, for Week 18, the final weekend of the season, the scheduling of the Saturday, Sunday afternoon, and Sunday night games is not assigned. The schedule for Week 18 will be announced no later than six days prior to that week’s Saturday game (January 6, 2024). That means the Bears-Packers game on January 7 could be flexed to prime time or moved to Saturday January 6.
• For Sunday nights in Weeks 5-13 and for Monday nights in Weeks 12-17, the NFL will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN) and announce no later than 12 days in advance of the game, which game will be played on Sunday night and which game will be played on Monday night.
• For Sunday night in Weeks 14-17, the flexible scheduling decision will generally be made no later than six days prior to the game.
• Flex scheduling does not apply to Thursday night or Thanksgiving Day games.
• The Black Friday game between the Jets and the Dolphins cannot be flexed.

Here is the Monday Night Football schedule week-by-week:

Week 1:

• Bills at Jets (September 11, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes):
  The 2023 season opener will be the second time Aaron Rodgers has begun a season on Monday Night Football. Rodgers has won his last nine starts on MNF, tied for the third-longest all-time streak.

Week 2:

• Saints at Panthers (September 18, 2023 – 7:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young could make his Monday Night Football debut. This rivalry game will be the Panthers’ first MNF game since 2018.
• Browns at Steelers (September 18, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes):
  The AFC North rivals will play each other for only the fourth time on Monday Night Football.

Week 3:

• Eagles at Buccaneers (September 25, 2023 – 7:15 p.m. – ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes):
  The two NFC foes matchup on Monday Night Football for the first time since 2003.
• Rams at Bengals (September 25, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  A rematch of Super Bowl LVI where quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams defeated quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals.

Week 4:

• Falcons at Jaguars (October 1, 2023 – 9:30 a.m. – ESPN+):
  The second annual ESPN+ exclusive NFL game will kick off the NFL’s International Series at Wembley Stadium in London.
• Seahawks at Giants (October 2, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  Two playoff teams from 2022-23 season match up and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith will return to his former stadium in New York.

Week 5:

• Packers at Raiders (October 9, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  Packers quarterback Jordan Love will make his Monday Night Football debut. This game will mark 31 straight seasons of the Packers appearing on MNF (the longest current streak among all NFL teams).

Week 6:

• Cowboys at Chargers (October 16, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  Two playoff teams from the 2022-23 season face-off, as will two of the NFL’s dynamic quarterbacks: Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert.

Week 7:

• 49ers at Vikings (October 23, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  A matchup featuring two playoff teams, as well as the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, and AP Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson.

Week 8:

• Raiders at Lions (October 30, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  The Lions will host a home Monday Night Football game for the first time since 2018.

Week 9:

• Chargers at Jets (November 6, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  Herbert takes on Rodgers for the first time in his career.

Week 10:

• Broncos at Bills (November 13, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills host a Monday Night Football game for the third consecutive year. Head coach Sean Peyton will make his Broncos’ Monday Night Football debut.

Week 11:

• Eagles at Chiefs (November 20, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes):
  A Super Bowl LVII rematch where Kansas City defeated the Eagles. For the first time since 2017, the previous season’s Super Bowl participants meet in the following season. 

Week 12:

• Bears at Vikings (November 27, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  The NFC North rivals will play each other for the 17th time on Monday Night Football.

Week 13:

• Bengals at Jaguars (December 4, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  The 2020 and 2021 NFL Draft number one picks, Burrow and Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will face off.

Week 14:

• Packers at Giants (December 11, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes):
  This will be the first time since 1983 the two teams have met on Monday Night Football.
  
• Titans at Dolphins (December 11, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  The Miami Dolphins will host Monday Night Football for the first time since 2017.

Week 15:

• Chiefs at Patriots (December 18, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ESPN Deportes):
  Super Bowl LVII MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take on Bill Belichick for the fifth time in his career.

Week 16:

• Ravens at 49ers (December 25, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes):
  The finale of the NFL’s Christmas Day three-game slate will conclude on ABC with a Super Bowl XLVII rematch between the Ravens and the 49ers.

Week 17:

• Lions at Cowboys (December 30, 2023 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes):
  Troy Aikman will make his Monday Night Football analyst debut in Dallas.

Week 18:

• TBD (January 6, 2024 – 4:30 p.m. – ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes)
• TBD (January 6, 2024 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes)

Super Wild Card Weekend:

• TBD (January 15, 2024 – 8:15 p.m. – ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes)

Divisional Weekend:

• TBD (January 20 or 21, 2024 – TBD – ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes)