The NFL has grown the league’s games on Thanksgiving into an annual national spectacle. While millions will tune in to watch the league’s three-game slate on Thanksgiving in 2024, one of this season’s holiday matchups has lost its luster due to injuries and underwhelming performances.
Therefore, many question if the league can flex holiday games. While the league has already flexed three games this season, they have yet to do so on Thanksgiving.
What Are the NFL’s Rules for Flex Scheduling?
The NFL introduced flex scheduling in 2006, as the league aimed to promote the most exciting matchups to prime-time viewing slots. Prior to the 2023 season, only Sunday Night Football matchups were eligible to be changed using flex scheduling.
However, the league expanded eligibility to matchups on both Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football in 2023. Following the rule changes, here are the games that can be adjusted by flex scheduling:
- Sunday Night Football: Flex scheduling can be utilized up to twice between Weeks 5-10, as well as Weeks 11-17 at the league’s discretion.
- Monday Night Football: Flex scheduling can be utilized between Weeks 12-17 at the league’s discretion.
- Thursday Night Football: Flex scheduling can be utilized up to twice between Weeks 13-17.
Therefore, the league is technically now allowed to flex the third and final game on the Thanksgiving slate of games each season, if it is scheduled in Week 13 or later. While many NFL fans are concerned about the Thanksgiving matchup between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys this season, the NFL is unable to change that matchup.
Despite both teams being forced to start backup quarterbacks in Week 13, the league is forced to broadcast an underwhelming matchup in the NFC East for the world to see on Thanksgiving. Yet, if the late afternoon game between the Giants and Cowboys fails to bring in viewers, the NFL could opt to expand their flex scheduling rules in the future.
What Games Has the NFL Flexed in 2024?
The NFL has already flexed three games during the regular season in 2024. There’s a strong chance that the NFL will flex a few more games in the near future as well.
While the league was already eligible to change Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football matchups, it was unable to change Thursday Night Football matchups prior to Week 13.
Here are the three games that the NFL has flexed during the regular season in 2024:
- Week 9: Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings replaced Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football
- Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Chargers replaced Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Jets on Sunday Night Football
- Week 16: Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers replaced Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football
The league’s decision to move the Broncos versus Chargers matchup in Week 16 marked the first time that a game was flexed to Thursday Night Football. It’ll be interesting to see if the league decides to make any additional changes to the remaining regular-season schedule.