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The Ravens have two primetime games remaining on their schedule, but they’re now poised to potentially receive another thanks to flex scheduling. Aside from the first four games of the season, NBC has the ability to change the kickoff time of any CBS or Fox game and put it in primetime for the network.
Earlier this week, both CBS and Fox submitted their list of protected games, none of which feature the Ravens.
Next week, the Ravens travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers in a scheduled NBC Sunday Night Football game, and it’s highly unlikely the network will give up that game given the national appeal of the Steelers, the rivalry and combined records of the two teams.
If the Ravens are to receive an additional nationally televised game, the most likely candidate will be on November 30th when the Chargers come to Baltimore. Besides the Monday Night Football game against the Saints (not flex eligible), the Ravens remaining schedule lacks national appeal due to the teams and their records (Titans, Dolphins, Jaguars, Texans).
If flexed, NBC would have to relinquish their scheduled broadcast of the Denver Broncos at the Kansas City Chiefs. Given the Broncos national appeal with the love-fest surrounding Peyton Manning, it would be hard to imagine anyone actually pulling the plug on an opportunity to showcase Manning and the high-powered Broncos offense.
The Ravens’ regular season finale versus the Cleveland Browns isn’t eligible given that NBC doesn’t broadcast a Sunday Night Football game during Week 17.
Here’s the list of the remaining protected games by each network:
League Week |
CBS Protected Game |
Fox Protected Game |
Week 11 |
No Games Protected |
Eagles @ Packers |
Week 12 |
Dolphins @ Broncos |
No Games Protected |
Week 13 |
Patriots @ Packers |
Saints @ Steelers |
Week 14 |
Steelers @ Bengals |
Seahawks @ Eagles |
Week 15 |
Broncos @ Chargers |
49ers @ Seahawks |
Week 16 |
Colts @ Cowboys |
Lions @ Bears |
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