Did NFL give Cowboys unfair advantage this Sunday?
Posted by Anthony Stalter (12/26/2008 @ 10:07 am)
Thanks to flex scheduling, the Dallas-Philadelphia game this Sunday was moved to 4:15PM ET, which means the Eagles may already be eliminated from playoff contention by the time they teams are set for kickoff.
Nobody can deny the decision gives Dallas a potential competitive advantage, with Chicago, Minnesota and Tampa Bay playing at 1 o’clock. If the Bucs defeat the lowly Raiders — or if the Bears and Vikings both win — the Eagles would take the field knowing they’ve been eliminated.
“To learn after you have warmed up and just before kickoff that you have been eliminated can be devastating,” writes Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw, in his item on the controversial switch.
Venerable Philadelphia Daily News scribe Bill Conlin says the decision may spoil a dramatic fight to the finish in the wild-card chase — to the advantage of Dallas.
It would have been dramatically correct for the Bucs, Bears, Vikings, Birds and Cowboys all simultaneously slugging away for that second NFC wild-card berth. Bucs win, it’s over for Andy and the South Philly Air Force. Vikes and Bears both win, it’s over. That’s a lot of possible overs to overcome. And if the Bucs, Vikes and Bears all lose, the Eagles still have to beat the Cowboys.
It appears the NFL liked the long odds against the Vikings and Bears both losing and went all-in on a dispirited Eagles team playing a so-what game at 4:15[.]
Psychologically, yes, this could be an advantage for the Cowboys. But this isn’t an attempt by the NFL to give Dallas an advantage – this is about national coverage. This is a huge game and the purpose of flex scheduling is to give fans the best matchup possibly during primetime.
But considering the NFL Network is dedicated to giving fans as much Dallas Cowboys coverage as possible, I could see why some would be up in arms about this.
Thanks to flex scheduling, the Dallas-Philadelphia game this Sunday was moved to 4:15PM ET, which means the Eagles may already be eliminated from playoff contention by the time they teams are set for kickoff.
Nobody can deny the decision gives Dallas a potential competitive advantage, with Chicago, Minnesota and Tampa Bay playing at 1 o’clock. If the Bucs defeat the lowly Raiders — or if the Bears and Vikings both win — the Eagles would take the field knowing they’ve been eliminated.
“To learn after you have warmed up and just before kickoff that you have been eliminated can be devastating,” writes Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw, in his item on the controversial switch.
Venerable Philadelphia Daily News scribe Bill Conlin says the decision may spoil a dramatic fight to the finish in the wild-card chase — to the advantage of Dallas.
It would have been dramatically correct for the Bucs, Bears, Vikings, Birds and Cowboys all simultaneously slugging away for that second NFC wild-card berth. Bucs win, it’s over for Andy and the South Philly Air Force. Vikes and Bears both win, it’s over. That’s a lot of possible overs to overcome. And if the Bucs, Vikes and Bears all lose, the Eagles still have to beat the Cowboys.
It appears the NFL liked the long odds against the Vikings and Bears both losing and went all-in on a dispirited Eagles team playing a so-what game at 4:15[.]
Psychologically, yes, this could be an advantage for the Cowboys. But this isn’t an attempt by the NFL to give Dallas an advantage – this is about national coverage. This is a huge game and the purpose of flex scheduling is to give fans the best matchup possibly during primetime.
But considering the NFL Network is dedicated to giving fans as much Dallas Cowboys coverage as possible, I could see why some would be up in arms about this.
posted by The Gryphon at 11:43 AM
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