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So it now seems the National Football League and NBC Sports have pulled the plug on the San Diego Chargers season.
Today the league announced that the Nov. 22nd Kansas City Chiefs vs San Diego Chargers Sunday Night matchup has been flexed out of its original time slot and replaced with a game that features the currently undefeated (7-0) Cincinnati Bengals and (5-2) Arizona Cardinals. Not even former Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson could help. The Chargers were set to retire Tomlinson's no. 21 under the lights. Tomlinson will still get his day, though now with an earlier 1:05 pm start.
Sunday night games have been earmarked as the marquee game of the week, and with the Chargers slumping to a 2-6 record and the Chiefs are just 3-5 this season the move was made in an effort to ensure that a better matchup would ensure better ratings. Remember, better ratings = better $$$.
Maybe it's a good thing. At least now the Chargers won't be able to find a way to lose in the final seconds of the game in primetime for the whole world to see.
Ouch. (I'm aware I'm gonna get roasted for that comment)
Below is a primer on how the NFL decides to flex out games:
NFL Flexible Scheduling 101
- Begins Sunday of Week 5
- In effect during Weeks 5-17
- Up to 2 games may be flexed into Sunday Night between Weeks 5-10
- Only Sunday afternoon games are subject to being moved into the Sunday night window.
- The game that has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday night during flex weeks will be listed at 8:15 p.m. ET.
- The majority of games on Sundays will be listed at 1:00 p.m. ET during flex weeks except for games played in Pacific or Mountain Time zones which will be listed at 4:05 or 4:15 p.m. ET.
- No impact on Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games.
- The NFL will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC) and announce as early as possible the game being played at 8:15 p.m. ET. The announcement will come no later than 12 days prior to the game. The NFL may also announce games moving to 4:05 p.m. ET and 4:25 p.m. ET.