A Look @ The Flex Scheduling & The Bears

Peter King's predictions for this weekend included a look at the Flex Scheduling of one 4-1 Cincinnati Bengals. Here's the insert:

Relayed this on Sunday night on NBC: When I was finishing up on the phone with Marvin Lewis the other day, I congratulated him and he said, "We're just trying to get on one of your games.'' An NBC Sunday-nighter, he meant. OK. Weeks 11 through 17 are flex scheduling on NBC. Let's see when you might fit in, coach.

Week 11: at Oakland. No dice.
Week 12: Cleveland. Nope.
Week 13: Detroit. Geez! What is this, the Giants' schedule?
Week 14: at Minnesota. Bingo. Hold on. NBC has dibs on Eagles-Giants that week. Can't see them switching out of two top-10 TV markets for anything.
Week 15: at San Diego. Very interesting. NBC has Vikings-Panthers, which is compelling only because it's Favre.
Week 16: Kansas City. Nah.
Week 17: at the New York Football Jets. Another bingo.

So you see it here first: If the Bengals keep winning, they might invade your TV sets for a Sunday-nighter Dec. 20 in San Diego or Jan. 3 at the frosty Meadowlands. Maybe both.

Link here.

Now, this got me to thinking about the Bears' chances of getting a game or two (possibility of PHI@CHI being flexed OUT, but more than likely one game since the Max games for a team on NBC is 4) flexed for SNF on NBC. Also, only three teams may make as many as six prime-time appearances (Sunday night, Monday night, and Thursday night combined), which isn't a predetermined number & it goes by the first 3 teams who are scheduled for 6 primetime games, eliminating the possibility of it after the 3rd team:

2009 Primetime Games BEFORE Flex Scheduling

Indianapolis Colts 5
Chicago Bears 5: @ GB, @ ATL, @ SF, vs. PHI(more than likely), vs. MIN
Dallas Cowboys 5
New York Giants 5
Pittsburgh Steelers 5
New England Patriots 4
Philadelphia Eagles 4
San Diego Chargers 4
Tennessee Titans 4
Miami Dolphins 4
Arizona Cardinals 3
Baltimore Ravens 3
Minnesota Vikings 3
Carolina Panthers 3
Denver Broncos 3
Green Bay Packers 3
New Orleans Saints 3
Washington Redskins 3
New York Jets 2
Atlanta Falcons 2
Buffalo Bills 2
Cleveland Browns 2
San Francisco 49ers 2

Week 11: vs. Philadelphia (Already on NBC...Hard to see this game getting Flexed OUT...Possibilities: ATL@NYG, IND@BAL, SD@DEN, NYJ@NE Protected by CBS, ...I'm not sure what any of these teams' 4 SNF limits are at, but this being the 1st week of flex scheduling, ANY team can be flexed in with only 5 teams @ 5 primetime games, no one at 6)

Week 12: @ Minnesota (Hard to see back to back SNF games...although there is the Favre love factor...also hard to see PIT@BAL being Flexed out...Protected by FOX)

Week 13: vs. St. Louis (Not a chance)

Week 14: vs. Green Bay (Already had a SNF game vs. them in Week 1...highly unlikely...Protected by FOX)

Week 15: @ Baltimore (The MOST likely of the 7 games...currently, SNF game is MIN@CAR...other possibilities: ATL@NYJ, GB@PIT Protected by FOX, CIN@SD Protected by CBS...I think Week 15 is the MOST LIKELY, but I don't know if by this week there will be 3 teams at the 6 primetime appearances limit AND I don't know if Baltimore has 4 other SNF games...let me know on that one)

Week 16: vs. Minnesota (MNF...Can't happen)

Week 17: @ Detroit (Not a chance)

There you have it. Week 15 seems the most logical, and even MORE logical if the Week 11 matchup at home against Philadelphia gets flexed out. With CIN@SD and GB@PIT getting protected by CBS & FOX respectively, this increases the chances of the Bears' Week 15 game getting flexed. Again, let me know which 3 teams are allowed the 6 primetime appearances.