You can't argue the NFL doesn't want to see the Dallas in the playoffs

[420]

 

You can't argue the NFL doesn't want to see the Dallas in the playoffs.

 

The Cowboys are the league's most popular (and profitable) team in any year, one of a precious few franchises with a legitimate claim to a national fan base. They dominate the dot-coms from ESPN to TMZ, creating the kind of sport-transcending buzz commissioners crave. This season in particular, the swirling soap-operatic subplots have helped generate record-breaking ratings for a number of their national games.

 

That Roger Goodell would rather see the Cowboys play into January -- as opposed to the Vikings, Buccaneers or even the Bears or Eagles -- is beyond question. So is the NFL abusing its power under the flex scheduling rules by shifting this weekend's Dallas-Philadelphia game to 4:15 p.m.?

 

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[.]

 

Do you think the Cowboys would gain an advantage if the Eagles knew they were eliminated from playoff contention? Does the decision-making smell fishy to you? Should there be some kind of oversight for the NFL's flex scheduling ability?

 

Dallas Cowboys-Eagles time change fuels conspiracy theory [Dallas Morning News]

TV sends wrong signal to Eagles [Philadelphia Daily News]

[Nesta]

Nah, sometimes teams play better football when they've got nothing to gain but play spoiler than they do when it's all on the line. You never know.

[so-cal dub]

I think this will piss the Eagles off even more to play harder, and do the opposite to the Cowboys.

[Sephiroth]

Well... what game were they replacing?

 

They prolly wanna switch it because it'll be a better game than whatever was originally slotted there.

[GreyHoodie]

 

You can't argue the NFL doesn't want to see the Dallas in the playoffs.

 

The Cowboys are the league's most popular (and profitable) team in any year, one of a precious few franchises with a legitimate claim to a national fan base. They dominate the dot-coms from ESPN to TMZ, creating the kind of sport-transcending buzz commissioners crave. This season in particular, the swirling soap-operatic subplots have helped generate record-breaking ratings for a number of their national games.

 

That Roger Goodell would rather see the Cowboys play into January -- as opposed to the Vikings, Buccaneers or even the Bears or Eagles -- is beyond question. So is the NFL abusing its power under the flex scheduling rules by shifting this weekend's Dallas-Philadelphia game to 4:15 p.m.?

 

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[.]

 

Do you think the Cowboys would gain an advantage if the Eagles knew they were eliminated from playoff contention? Does the decision-making smell fishy to you? Should there be some kind of oversight for the NFL's flex scheduling ability?

 

Dallas Cowboys-Eagles time change fuels conspiracy theory [Dallas Morning News]

TV sends wrong signal to Eagles [Philadelphia Daily News]

 

 

Pretty much same deal in the AFC, by flexing the Jets-Mia game to after NE-Bills, if NE wins it gives Jets less incentive to play MIA.