NFL blatantly disrespects both Joe Burrow and Josh Allen in a big way, and the ultimate victim from the decision are fans
The NFL has made a scheduling change, and the ultimate victim of the change is NFL fans. While the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals have had drastically different seasons, when healthy, they are two of the best teams in football. With Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow returning, the matchup between the Bengals and the Bills had […]
The NFL has made a scheduling change, and the ultimate victim of the change is NFL fans. While the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals have had drastically different seasons, when healthy, they are two of the best teams in football. With Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow returning, the matchup between the Bengals and the Bills had the makings of an instant classic.
Ahead of Week 12, the NFL announced a time change for the Bengals and Bills matchup, moving it to 1 p.m. (ET). Burrow’s return and Allen’s brilliance make the latest NFL decision feel like a slap in the face to fans who were hoping for something closer to a primetime game between the two clubs.
The move included another game being flexed over to the original spot the Bills had, a matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, moving to 4:25 p.m. (ET).
Personally, I would much rather save the Burrow versus Allen contest for the later game, not competing with as much, instead of the 1 p.m. slate where a majority of the league is playing. Fans deserve better, and while it’s only a few hours, it feels like a big miss from the NFL.
Networks get a certain number of protected games in specific slots, meaning that some games just simply can’t get flexed out. However, CBS saw near record numbers in the game between the Bills and the Chiefs, and Buffalo historically pulls in great numbers for a small market. In this case, both games will be broadcasted by Fox.
Joe Burrow’s health could have forced their hand
Perhaps the NFL decided to move the game, anticipating a less-than-favorable outcome for the Bengals this weekend. With a loss, the team could decide to pack it in for Burrow for the remainder of the season. The Bengals finally got their starting quarterback back, but it might be too little too late for a team that basically has to win out to make the postseason.
Admittedly, a Bengals and Bills game without Burrow does sound less fun, though the decision wasn’t made with that in mind, so it’s a bit head-scratching. Not to be an old man yelling at the moon, it was just an exciting thought to see these two teams duke it out with a wider audience watching.
At the end of the day, the NFL decides to do what it believes serves its broadcast partners best. It’s hard not to feel like a matchup of this caliber deserves a brighter spotlight. Fans wanted a stage worthy of Allen versus Burrow; instead, they got buried in the chaos of the early slate.
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