New England Patriots flexed out of Monday Night Football game
The New England Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15, but now on Sunday, instead of on Monday Night Football. The game has been flexed to 1 P.M. on December 16th, the NFL will move the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks to Monday Night Football.
Starting this season the NFL built in the possibility to flex games in and out of MNF any time between Week 12-17.
This marks the first time that a game has been flexed out of Monday night. Last week, the NFL kept in the 6-6 Minnesota Vikings and the 4-8 Chicago Bears in the Monday night slot.
This flexing is a new low for New England and speaks to how unwatchable the Patriots product has been this season. The turnovers and screen passes are so horrible for the NFL that even the star power of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce is not enough to keep the Patriots on Monday night.
The NFL took away the opportunity for a prime time game to feature not just a star but the number one superstar in Mahomes. At 2-9, the Patriots still have enough storylines to follow. The change in quarterback is one storyline gaining steam this week with Bailey Zappe reportedly set to start in place of Mac Jones.
The job security of Bill Belichick being another storyline for NFL fans to watch.
While, these are great for sports talk, it isn’t enough to draw a Monday Night Football crowd. The Patriots have no fantasy relevant players for fans to consider watching in the game.
Moves like this by the league and the networks should get the attention of owner Robert Kraft. Prime time games are a big deal and a prominent owner like Kraft can’t be pleased to be embarrassed by losing a prime audience.
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