Week 17 Time Changes

In an effort to enhance viewership or to fuck the Patriots in every conceivable way, I haven't decided which, the NFL has restructured the Week 17 schedule affecting more than a handful of games.

First, the changes -

NBC has exercised flex authority over the Broncos/Chargers game.
The NFL has moved the following games to 4:15 - the Dolphins/Jets, Jaguars/Ravens and Cowboys/Eagles

Now the implications -

The Jets need a win of their own plus a Pats loss to win the AFC east. By the time their game kicks off, they will know whether they are playing for pride or a division title. This bothers me a little because I feel they will lose some of their drive and motivation if they know they will be helping their arch rivals in the process. This is not to say they will rollover or give up but even NFL players are human and there is a subconscious element in play.

The one good thing if you are a Pats fan is that the NFL moved the Ravens game too. So even with a Pats win, the Jets still have a small chance to sneak in should they win and the Ravens lose. There will be a lot of scoreboard watching at the Meadowlands and if the Jags keep their game close, expect the Jets to throw everything they have at the Fins.

I like the Sunday night move. This game could top last nights in terms of intensity and theater. It also proves why the flex option is so valuable to NBC. Instead of watching a bullshit game involving the Packers and the Bears, we get a real game with real implications (I know the Bears can clinch tonight but frankly, who outside of Illinois or Minnesota gives a fuck?). The Chargers and the Broncos hate each other. There is real animosity between the programs and the action should be nothing short of compelling. Plus, both have shaky defenses prone to letting up big points. The over/under could be 70.