Could Andy Reid's Finale Be a Night Game?
Could Andy Reid's Finale Be a Night Game?
Could Andy Reid's Finale Be a Night Game?
Bob Vetrone Jr.
Perhaps the irony is that the Andy Reid era is going to hang on a little longer than we thought after all ... if only for a few hours.
The NFL will enforce its flex scheduling for Week 17 no later than Monday (Merry Christmas Eve!) depending on the playoff possibilities for that weekend. (No night game has yet been scheduled at all; one will move into that NBC slot.) Since so many of the division titles are locked up and the top seeds and byes could be right behind them — and the NFC East title is guaranteed to not be clinched this weekend — Eagles-Giants and Cowboys-Redskins look to be the leaders in the clubhouse to close out the 2012 regular season.
The race for the final (or both) NFC wild-card slots may save us from yet another prime-time Birds event, but there is no denying that having a division title at stake is better for the ratings.
Here's a look at the Week 17 schedule, with records to date and a quick glance at what might be up for grabs in the contest:
| Teams | W-L | Notes |
| Eagles at Giants |
4-10 8-6 |
NFC East can not be clinched in Week 16, but NFL may want the division games being played simultaneously |
| Buccaneers at Falcons |
6-8 12-2 |
Atlanta can clinch NFC top seed this weekend |
| Jets at Bills |
6-8 5-9 |
Two teams going nowhere |
| Ravens at Bengals |
9-5 8-6 |
Baltimore can clinch AFC North in Week 16 and may be out of running for a first-round bye at this point |
| Bears at Lions |
8-6 4-10 |
The final NFC wild-card spot can not be clinched in Week 16, so the Bears could be in play for that |
| Texans at Colts |
12-2 9-5 |
Texans (and, yes, I typed "Oilers" at first) could clinch top AFC seed in Week 16, as could Colts with a wild-card spot |
| Packers at Vikings |
10-4 8-6 |
Green Bay may be out of the running for a first-round bye, but Minnesota could be in the middle of a very muddled wild-card race |
| Dolphins at Patriots |
6-8 10-4 |
New England could very easily be locked in as the AFC's No. 3 seed after this weekend |
| Panthers at Saints |
5-9 6-8 |
Two teams getting together to celebrate victories over the Eagles as little else |
| Browns at Steelers |
5-9 7-7 |
Pittsburgh could be eliminatyed from playoff contention in Week 16 |
| Jaguars at Titans |
2-12 5-9 |
Jacksonville could be in the running for the overall No. 1 draft pick, but I don't think that's what flex scheduling is all about |
| Cowboys at Redskins |
8-6 8-6 |
This might be the best bet for the flex, especially if the Giants are eliminated from contention for the divsion title in Week 16 |
| Chiefs at Broncos |
2-12 11-3 |
This season can't end soon enough for Kansas City and the Broncos may already have a first-round bye sewn up |
| Raiders at Chargers |
4-10 5-9 |
The WWE might want to flex this one, but that's about it |
| Cardinals at 49ers |
5-9 10-3-1 |
San Francisco could have a bye locked by in Week 16 and Kevin Kolb is done for the season, so even Andy Reid won;t watch |
| Rams at Seahawks |
6-7-1 9-5 |
Seattle could have a playoff spot locked up but the division (and a home playoff game) will proably be out of reach |
Comments (32)
Something about the flex schedule feels like NFL rigging its games; just a dirty taste about it— Dutch10- It would be fitting since Reid has been coaching in the dark since he came here.— Atomic Fury
- AAAa I like that post Atomic
— urbnasty - A great sports year in Philly! only 88 more sports years before another title!— Mortimer G Fingenfinderstein III
- NO!!! We don't need to be embarrassed on National TV again this season! While hearing the national announcers say how great Andy Reid, and how spoiled the Eagles fans even though we haven't had an parade since 1960. Plus we will have to hear that Andy Reid will get a job within seconds of being let go by the Eagles, etc....— co
The network HOPES they are onboard for a not-so-found-farewell to AR. Without doubt, any grainy clips from the Santa Claus incident, the Jimmy Johnson snowball incident, the Michael Irvin incident, the flare gun incident; all of these old clips will have been digitally remastered for the finale. I expect a tender interview with AR and what the fans of the Eagles meant to him and his family.....soft piano music playing in the background. The game announcers and studio hosts will admonish Philadelphia, warning us that we will rue the day when AR is no longer coaching the teams. I'm not sure how this town will survive!
Back in the Braman days, not unlike our great reciever Mike Quick, AR would have been given an empty golf bag and a Laurel and Hardy handshake on his way out the door....- You got it. Except there woulda been no golf bag.
— drenner - What co said! National media wants to showcase the Birds getting the 3rd pick in the draft. Thing is, they might be able to get that pick with a win. The Lions are probably losing out but Da Bears are in a free fall and the Birds hold the tie breaker over the Lions. Oakland may luck into another win, too.— 2ndNlong
- Wouldn't it be odd if all the hate for Andy Reid had to build another year or two if the owner re signs him ?
Is he really as bad as we think he is ? Look at all the coaches who worked under Andy, got offers to coach other teams, and are doing well. Andy must have taught them something. In all the years dating back to Joe Kuharick, I've seen coaches far worse than Andy.
Andy didn't fumble the balls, drop passes, or slip and fall on the playing field, his players did. You can't win without good players, and replacements should they get injured.— phineas - @phineas: Nobody is saying that Reid is a bad coach. All we are saying is that he has had 14 years to win a Superbowl, and couldn't get it done. It's time for a different direction and a fresh start with a new coach. We could get a worse coach who leads us to 4-12 seasons in the next few years, we could get a promising young coordinator who leads us to our first parade in 52 years. I'm willing to take the chance, and most fans are too, but its all up to Mr. Lurie and whether he is ready to make a change.— co
- Atomic.. that was a Good one :)— klew
- A night game would be fitting, so Philly fans could show their appreciation for the Eagles' winningest coach - Andy "Big Red" Reid, by sending him off in a chorus of heartfelt applause! How would the NYC-based national media be able to continually mischaracterize Philadelphia fans, and specifically Eagles fans, after showing that type of class for our winningest coach? Or....will the Dirty 30 (Dopey 30?) mentality play out on national TV. Time's yours Eagles fans...— TruthTeller01
- Yeah Truth - because so many Eagles fans are going to go up to the Meadowlands for this game.
Maybe you should take a peak at the schedule, which is conveniently laid out for you in the chart above. In case you have a scrolling problem, I'll repeat it for you: Eagles AT Giants. Notice that AT. Again...AT. A. T.— rounddollar - Haven't the Iggles stunk up enough national games this year? Cowboys-Redskins should be more entertaining than another Reid wreck.— Bruce in NM
- well said co on both postings!— rossta
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