EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on October 20, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In recent weeks, the Eagles have now had 2 games flexed out of prime slots, to make way for different teams. This weekend’s game vs the Bengals was originally supposed to be a 4:25 game on CBS their prime slot, where they put their best game. They got flexed to 1 to make way for Bears vs Commanders. Now, a Jaguars game that was originally the Sunday night game, will be played at 4 PM two weeks from now.
It is a big change from last year, where they were constantly featured either in prime-time games or in either the CBS or Fox game of the week slot. They were getting either Network’s A-Team Broadcast nearly every week. The Eagles hardly ever played in the 1 pm window.
The ratings backed up the fact that people wanted to watch the Eagles. 4 of the 10 most watched games featured the Eagles. Even in week 17, when they were in a tailspin and were playing the lowly Giants, it drew massive ratings. They were media darlings. Now 1 year later they are getting bumped from key time slots 2 weeks in a row.
Photo By: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Why Were The Eagles Flexed?
So What happened? Kincade and Salciunas had Adam Schefter on the air and asked him that question. here is what Schefter said.
“Eagles vs Jacksonville is a function, I think, of the opponent. We’ve seen enough of the Jaguars in London in the last two weeks and I go okay I’m good right now. I think it’s a function of that. And the first time they were flexed out. I believe it was for Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels…
So I think the first time the Eagles are flexed out, it’s more to do with the fact that these two young quarterbacks are very appealing and the next time they’re flexed out. I think it has more to do with the Jaguars and I don’t think either time it has as much to do with the Eagles, but they’re caught up in it both times.“
Those two points are fair. The Jaguars are a bad team, and they replaced this weekend’s game with a battle of the exciting rookie QBs. But shouldn’t Hurts vs Burrow also be a big draw? That is why they planned it to be the main CBS game this weekend to begin with. But 7 weeks in they decided another game was better
Also, opponents didn’t matter last year with them. Eagles-Jets drew big numbers. Eagles-Giants was a top 10 watched game. Last year networks wanted them no matter who they played. So is it really just the opponent causing them to be flexed this year?
The truth is somewhere in between. Yes, there were better matchups, and the Eagles’ opponents are not big draws in these games anymore. But it also has to do with the Eagles not being as sexy as they once were.
They have 3 more Prime Time games coming up. The Thursday Night game vs the Commanders won’t be flexed. But the Sunday Night game the following week vs the Rams could be.
They also have 3 4:25 games that could be in danger of being moved to 1. It is the Steelers, Ravens, and Cowboys, so they probably won’t be moved. But clearly, the NFL does not value the Eagles the way they did last year.
Dylan MacKinnon is The Digital Content Coordinator For 97.5 The Fanatic. he has been an Eagles, Flyers, Sixers, and Flyers fan his whole life. He graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors in Journalism. Dylan has worked at the Fanatic since 2016, starting as an Intern, moving to the Street team, and eventually was hired as an Associate Producer before settling into his current role in the Digital Department. You may hear him referred to on-air as "The D-Train."
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