Should the last week have all conference games at the same time?

[Wallyhorse]

Mentioned this previously on the old board:

Given that Football Team-Eagles wound up the final game of the regular season because it was the only game guaranteed to mean something regardless of the outcome ahead of time, this is why the NFL should in future seasons simplify the last week by having ALL GAMES in one conference at 3:30 PM and the other conference at 7:30 PM (or if necessary to accommodate 60 Minutes on CBS, 3:00 and 8:15 PM ET) with ALL games divided up between ALL of the NFL’s broadcast partners in the following manner:

NBC gets first pick for each time slot

FOX/CBS have between them picks 2-3 for each time slot

ABC gets fourth pick for each time slot

ESPN gets fifth pick for each time slot (game also airs on LivWell, ABC’s DT-2 channel or LAFF, ABC’s DT-3 channel)

NFL Network gets sixth pick for each time slot (game also airs on MOVIES, FOX’s DT-2 channel or BUZZR, FOX’s DT-4 channel)

CBS/FOX then between them get picks 7-8 for each time slot (games air on CBSSN AND DECADES, CBS’s DT-2 Channel AND FS1 and whichever of MOVIES/BUZZR DOES NOT air the NFLN game).

That’s how I do the last week.

This I'd do if as expected the NFL added a 17th regular season game next year and if necessary added a 19th week (two bye weeks with one bye tied to mid-week games) to satisfy any requirements for DIRECTV's Sunday Ticket. 

[Madriver]

My head hurts after reading this...

 

[paco]

Not reading your post, but yes.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

Yes they should because usually there's a lot riding on these games. And even if two teams in the same division aren't competing for the same thing the one may still be able to ruin the others play off chances or seeding etc and that's good motivation for rivals. 

[Wallyhorse]

On 1/1/2021 at 8:03 AM, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Yes they should because usually there's a lot riding on these games. And even if two teams in the same division aren't competing for the same thing the one may still be able to ruin the others play off chances or seeding etc and that's good motivation for rivals. 

Exactly.  This is basically how it's done in most other sports leagues around the world.  

If we had the 3:30/7:30 schedule the final week (or 3:00/8:20 if CBS had to air 60 Minutes), here's how it likely would be (games are listed in the likely choice order the networks would have):

AFC games at 3:30 PM ET:
NBC: Steelers-Browns (Mike Tirico and Tony Dungy)
CBS: Dolphins-Bills (Ian Eagle and Charles Davis)
FOX: Titans-Texans (Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis)
ABC: Ravens-Bengals (Sean McDonough and Todd Blackledge)
ESPN/LivWell or LAFF: Jaguars-Colts (Bob Wischusen and Dan Orlovsky)
NFLN/MOVIES or BUZZR: Jets-Patriots (Adam Amin and Mark Schlereth)
FS1/MOVIES or BUZZR: Raiders-Broncos (Joe Davis and Robert Smith)
CBSSN/DECADES: Chargers-Chiefs (Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta)

NFC games at 7:30 PM ET:
NBC: Packers-Bears (Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth)
FOX: Cardinals-Rams (Joe Buck and Troy Aikman)
CBS: Cowboys-Giants (Jim Nantz and Boomer Esiason)
ABC: Saints-Panthers (Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick)
ESPN/LivWell or LAFF: Seahawks-49ers (Dave Pasch and Mike Golic, Sr.)
NFLN/MOVIES or BUZZR: Football Team-Eagles (Kenny Albert and Johnathan Vilma)
CBSSN/DECADES: Falcons-Buccaneers (Greg Gumbel and Trent Dilfer)
FS1/MOVIES or BUZZR: Vikings-Lions (Joe Davis and Robert Smith)

NOTE: Normally, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit would have in this scenario gotten the 3:30 PM ABC game but because Herbstreit tested positive for COVID and can't be at the gamesite the way the NFL seems to want it they would not be on at all.  Tony Romo is also out due to COVID protocols.

Second note: LivWell is ABC's DT-2, LAFF is ABC's DT-3, MOVIES is FOX's DT-2, BUZZR is FOX's DT-4, DECADES is CBS's DT-2 channel.

This is how the last week should be done.