For the second time this season, the NFL has flexed the Cincinnati Bengals out of a primetime slot. Initially, the Bengals’ Week 8 game against the Philadelphia Eagles was moved from a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff to 1:00 p.m. ET, likely due to the league’s preference for the Bears vs. Commanders matchup.
Now, Cincinnati’s Week 16 game against the Cleveland Browns, originally set for Thursday Night Football on December 19, has been shifted to Sunday, December 22, at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Chargers vs. Broncos game will replace the Bengals-Browns clash in primetime, likely due to the playoff implications surrounding the Chargers.
This is the first Thursday Night Football game ever to be flexed, following the NFL’s introduction of flexible scheduling for TNF last season. Only games from Weeks 13-17 can be flexed, and no more than two TNF games are allowed to be moved per season.
Several factors, including broadcasting rules, competitive balance, and the timing of the holiday season, contributed to the decision to move the Bengals-Browns game. This marks the third time the Bengals’ schedule has been altered this season, with a Week 11 primetime matchup against the Chargers replacing an originally scheduled afternoon game.
Cincinnati and Cleveland will meet again for the second time this season after the Bengals defeated the Browns 21-14 in Week 7.
