The NFL announced on Thursday that we have our first-ever Monday Night Football flex.
In Week 15, instead of watching the Patriots and Chiefs, we will see the Eagles play the Seahawks in prime time. How did the NFL come to this decision?
Why Are the Eagles and Seahawks Being Flexed Into Monday Night Football?
The Eagles matchup against the Seahawks is the first game to be flexed into a Monday night after the NFL introduced new rules for the 2023 season.
The rule states that the NFL can flex any number of games that are scheduled between Week 12 and Week 17 as long as they give at least 12 days’ notice. The Eagles and Seahawks game was originally scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 17, at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Instead, Philadelphia against Seattle will take place on Monday, Dec. 18, at 8:15 ET.
It will be the Seahawks’ fourth prime-time game in 2023. For the Eagles, it will be their sixth.
The Eagles will now play three prime-time games back-to-back. In Week 14, the Eagles visit the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. In Week 15, they are now flexed into Monday Night Football on the road in Seattle, and in Week 16, they take on the Giants at home on Christmas Day.
MORE: NFL Prime-Time Games 2023
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Eagles’ win over the Cheifs in Week 11 had over 29 million viewers, the most viewers that ESPN has had since broadcasting Monday Night Football and the most for a MNF contest since 1996.
Why Are the Chiefs and Patriots Being Flexed Out?
The Eagles/Seahawks game is replacing the Chiefs against the Patriots, which was originally scheduled for Monday Night Football in Week 15.
The Chiefs and Patriots game will be played on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
While the move isn’t a surprise, the draw of the Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the potential of Taylor Swift, is huge for broadcasters and audience numbers.
However, the game was viewed as a game that the Chiefs would win comfortably, and in 2023, the Patriots do not have the allure they once did.
While the Chiefs have had their issues in 2023, they are still one of the best teams in the NFL and are a big draw for prime-time games. However, the Patriots are playing like one of the worst teams in the NFL, and the game is expected to be a blowout.
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