What is NFL's flex scheduling? Explaining league's procedure to move games after Colts-Vikings timings change

The Philadelphia Eagles have been affected by the NFL's flex scheduling for the second consecutive week, as their Week 9 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars was removed from the Sunday Night Football slot. This is a common practice in the league, but many fans are unaware of its effects and how it impacts teams' schedules.

In 2006, the NFL initially implemented a 'flexible scheduling' procedure for Sunday Night Football. This was created to allow up-and-coming teams to play their way onto primetime. Ahead of the 2024 season, it was decided that this measure would include Monday Night Football while they test it on Thursday Night Football.

The league uses the following windows to make these changes:

• Sunday afternoon games can be moved to either the 1 p.m., 4:05 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. ET slots.
• Sunday Night Football changes will be implemented up to twice between Weeks 5-10 and at the league's discretion during Weeks 11-17.
• Weeks 12-17 would be used for Monday Night Football changes at the NFL's discretion.
• Thursday Night Football changes would suffer changes up to twice between Weeks 13-17.

During the Flex Scheduling Windows, the games originally scheduled for SNF, MNF and TNF are 'tentatively' scheduled and subject to change. This means that only Sunday afternoon games or those yet to have a determined kickoff time are eligible to be moved to Sunday, Monday or Thursday night. The games scheduled for those timeslots initially would be moved to Sunday afternoon.

Philadelphia Eagles' Week 9 duel suffered change due to NFL's flex scheduling

The Philadelphia Eagles were affected by the NFL's flex scheduling for the second consecutive week this season. Originally scheduled to play in Week 9's Sunday Night Football slot on Nov. 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they will now face former head coach Doug Pederson at 4:05 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field.

Brian McCarthy of the league office shared the final Week 9 schedule on X on Monday. The Indianapolis Colts vs Minnesota Vikings game will now take that spot.

The NFL's flex scheduling did the same with Philadelphia for Week 8. Their original 4:25 p.m. ET game against the Cincinnati Bengals was moved back at 1 p.m.

The Eagles have two more primetime games. On Thursday, Nov. 14, against the Washington Commanders and Sunday, Nov. 24, against the LA Rams.