The NFL should be kicking themselves for not flexing 49ers vs. Rams to Sunday night
The hype for the San Francisco 49ers has risen to new levels after they embarrassed the Cleveland Browns in front of the whole nation. It could not have been a more perfect game to demonstrate to everyone of the legitimacy of this team. Now that the 49ers look like the real deal, it makes for an exciting matchup between their division rival Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
However, the NFL apparently doesn’t view it as much of a big deal. This game was eligible to be flexed into Sunday night on NBC, yet the NFL decided to keep the original game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers. There was very little logic used in this decision if any at all. To think that the Chargers and Steelers make for a better game is ludicrous.
Whatever reasoning was behind not flexing the 49ers and Rams is clearly flawed. They must’ve either believed the 49ers are not good or didn’t want to give the 49ers back-to-back primetime games. Whatever the case may be, the NFL has to be kicking themselves for not flexing it. They really dropped the ball on this.
This game could have been an enormous ratings success as opposed to Chargers versus Steelers. The exciting build up for this game is going to be higher than any other game in week six. The Rams are coming off a brutal loss to the Seattle Seahawks and have been on a two game losing streak. Right now, the Rams look vulnerable and it gives the 49ers a prime opportunity to bring them down even further.
It’s really a game that the 49ers need to have and one that the Rams cannot afford to lose. The NFC west is going to be a tight race. Dropping a division game will set any of these teams back. As of now, the 49ers are sitting atop the division at 4-0. A win for them in Los Angeles can be major because after week six they face some very average teams. It’s not so much a must win game for both teams, but it’s definitely a “gotta have” game.
I’m just dumbfounded that the NFL doesn’t view this as a primetime matchup. A blind man can see that Rams versus 49ers is going to be a stellar battle. Kyle Shanahan against Sean McVay. The two best innovators and offensive minds in the league. There is going to be an endless supply of plays that make us jump out of seats.
Once again, the NFL is tone deaf to it as they are so many things that transpire on their watch. Even the Fox is downplaying this game since they’re not going to send their best commentary crew Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to Los Angeles. The disrespect should be felt on every level because this game is going to be one for the books that will make the NFL feel much regret.
