What is NFL's TNF flex scheduling? All you need to know about Roger Goodell's latest move

In a 24-8 vote during their meeting on Monday, NFL franchise owners agreed to allow TNF flex scheduling. Flex scheduling basically means replacing one fixture with another fixture to provide a better product for the public to watch in primetime.

As the name states, Thursday Night Football schedules will be subject to change, making way for more intriguing pairings than the original matchup. Proponents also claim that flexing schedules will be a step toward player safety by reducing short turnarounds for a highly physical sport.

But from a business perspective, this approach will give Amazon, TNF’s broadcaster, some meaningful games during the homestretch of the 2023 season. Amazon will pay the NFL about $1 billion annually to broadcast Thursday night games through Prime Video.

Commissioner Roger Goodell proposed that TNF flex scheduling will allow changes from Weeks 13 to 17. Last season, those games coincided with matchups that lacked meaning or interest because some participants were either out of playoff contention or were blown out.

Case in point: the Week 17 TNF game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans was not appealing. While both teams were still fighting for a playoff spot, Tennessee was at a disadvantage without quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Likewise, flex scheduling will also prevent teams that looked strong on paper but failed throughout the season due to several primetime games. Last season, the Denver Broncos earned five primetime matches, including a Thursday Night Football schedule, because of their seemingly formidable roster.

Unfortunately, they finished the season at 5-12 and won only one primetime game. Even that outcome was a dud because they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 11-10. Denver lost their TNF matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, 12-9.

The 2023 matchups that will be subject to change under the TNF flex scheduling rules are the Cowboys versus the Seattle Seahawks (Week 13). The New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers have a tentative TNF game a week later.

Then it will be the Los Angeles Chargers facing the Las Vegas Raiders (Week 15) and the New Orleans Saints against the Los Angeles Rams (Week 16).

For now, week 17 of the 2023 Thursday Night Football schedule will be the New York Jets against the Cleveland Browns.

TNF flex scheduling received staunch criticism from football personalities

While the owner’s votes ratified the motion to allow TNF flex scheduling, the suggestion received a ton of opposition. Their most significant complaint is that one team will be eligible for two Thursday Night Football games in one season.

That possibility will shorten the recovery and preparation times for coaches and players, especially those injured. No wonder football fans blasted Commissioner Roger Goodell when flex scheduling was still a proposal.

The TNF schedule will also lead to the first Black Friday game in NFL history. That matchup will feature the Jets going up against their division rivals Miami Dolphins. While there will be three games during Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 23), FOX, CBS, and NBC will cover those matches.

Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk host Mike Florio predicted that flex scheduling might lead to games on other days of the week. He said that it won’t be long before football might become a “seven days a week primetime event.”

On the owners’ side, John Mara of the New York Giants was the most prominent critic of TNF flex scheduling. He said in a quick interview with Charlotte Carroll, The Athletic’s beat writer for the Giants:

“Our season ticket holders, the people that fill our stadium every week, people have gotten used to going on Sunday afternoon to Sunday night. That doesn’t mean that they like it. This year, we could be flexed to Monday night, which I think is really inconsiderate to our ticket holders.”

“To flex a game back to Thursday night is abusive and I am adamantly opposed to it. I think it didn’t get enforced, it didn’t get enough votes today, but probably we could revisit it back.”

Aside from Mara, owners of the Jets, Raiders, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, and Pittsburgh Steelers opposed the proposal. The Green Bay Packers also voted against flex scheduling, though it is a publicly-owned company.

Finally, players like Darius Slay and two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes expressed dissent regarding TNF flex scheduling. They were seconded by former NFL players Robert Griffin III, Damien Woody, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt.