The NFL follows strict rules for flexing primetime games, with NBC and ESPN unable to swap out non-marquee matchups until Week 5 at the earliest.

This leads to early-season matchups — think the 2026 Atlanta Falcons-New Orleans Saints contest — becoming relatively drab, nationally televised games. The NFL is already considering flexing the Philadelphia Eagles-Washington Commanders game out of the Sunday Night slot in Week 8.

NBC play-by-play man Mike Tirico, speaking at a Front Office Sports panel last week, thinks the NFL should follow the Premier League model and allow further flexibility for game time swaps throughout the year.

“I would lay it out like the Premier League,” Tirico told Ryan Glasspiegel. “Like, hey, ‘Here is match window 14 and here are the fixtures for that matchweek.’ And six weeks or so out, you start slotting them in."

"I think that would help leave good inventory for an early Sunday, have your best games late Sunday afternoon and Sunday night, and there is some flexibility with Monday, right? You can move somebody a day later on in the season. Thursdays are hard because you’ve got to do that puzzle very intricately and fairly for teams.”

Tirico is right: there are challenges with moving teams to Thursdays, as preparations for midweek games must be scheduled before the season. So too is planning for international affairs.

“I think if you [changed this], it gives you a chance to do better because, at the end of the day, flex [scheduling], whether it’s Monday night, Sunday night, Thursday [also] has some flex opportunities as well for a few of their weeks, the person who wins in flex [is] not the networks," Tirico continued.

"It’s the fan because after two games on Sunday, you want a good game when it’s standing alone. You want a good game at 4:25 Eastern time when it’s standing alone. So I think that could help a little bit with this as it gets spread out.”

How does flex scheduling work currently on NBC? The NFL is allowed to pick two games between Weeks 5 and 10 to change, and then any games during Weeks 11-17.

Before Week 15, the NFL must provide at least 12 days' notice (which drops to 6 between Weeks 14 and 17). This allows fans time to make alternate travel arrangements if the game date and time move.

Meanwhile, FOX and CBS are both able to protect one game from their afternoon windows to not be poached by NBC for 'Sunday Night Football.'