New TNF Flex Scheduling Rule Could Affect Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are scheduled to play five primetime games this season, the second most in the NFL. Fans will have a chance to see the Silver and Black on the national stage quite often.

However, the Raiders could see that number drop, as NFL owners approved a proposal at their spring meeting that will allow Thursday Night Football games to be flexed to another time, but only in a specific stretch of weeks in the season. The resolution passed 24-8, with the Raiders voting against it.

New York Giants owner John Mara voiced his displeasure with the flex scheduling approval, citing the inconsideration towards fans who buy game tickets.

Thursday Night Football games from Week 13 to Week 17 are now eligible to be flexed, the final few weeks of the regular season. The Raiders are scheduled to play the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Week 15.

This means that the Raiders could end up being flexed out of their Thursday Night Football game and would be subject to having that game moved to another date, likely a Sunday game. The proposal passed because the league aims to put a quality matchup on primetime each week.

The Raiders are used to having games flexed out of primetime. Since the league introduced flexed scheduling, they have thrice bumped out of a primetime slot. In 2018, their Week 14 match-up against the Pittsburgh Steelers moved. In week seven of the 2020 season, their match-up with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was flexed out of Sunday Night Football.

Most recently, the Raiders’ match-up against the New England Patriots in Week 15 of last season was flexed out of Sunday Night Football. They also had their regular season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs flexed from Sunday to Saturday.

While no games are imminently planned to be flexed, and teams must receive 28 days' notice before a game is flexed, the Raiders are now aware of the potential that they may not have a primetime game against a division rival if the league decides to move another game into that slot.

The Raiders' offseason workout schedule is as follows:

OTA Offseason workouts: May 22-23, May 25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15

Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8

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