Patriots-Raiders flexed out of prime time in Week 15
BOSTON -- Patriots fans will be able to get to bed at their normal time in Week 15.
The game scheduled for prime time between the Patriots and Raiders in Las Vegas has been flexed to the afternoon, the NFL announced Monday. 98.5 The Sports Hub's Patriots radio analyst Scott Zolak first reported the flex earlier in the day.
BREAKING: Our own @scottzolak reports that the Patriots Week 15 matchup against the Raiders in Las Vegas will be flexed out of SNF and be played at 4:25pm on 12/18
— Zolak & Bertrand (@ZoandBertrand) December 5, 2022
A follow-up tweeted clarified that it will be a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff. The NFC East matchup between the 7-5-1 Washington Commanders and the 7-4-1 New York Giants will now be featured in the Sunday night slot.
The flexing of the game has been speculated about for some time, as both the Patriots (6-6) and Raiders (5-7) have been among the more disappointing teams in the NFL this season. What was supposed to be a high-profile matchup featuring Bill Belichick and Mac Jones against Josh McDaniels and Derek Carr has lost some of its national allure.
The flex means that the Patriots will not be playing four consecutive games in prime time. That streak will end in Week 14, with the Patriots playing in Arizona on Monday Night Football. The Patriots just played on the last two Thursday nights -- on the road in Minnesota on Thanksgiving, then at home against the Bills.