Fans wondering if the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs will still be Week 16’s primetime matchup on Sunday Night Football will have to wait a bit longer to find out the answer.
According to Adam Hoge of WGN Radio, the NFL has decided to open a six-day window to flex out of the Dec. 22nd matchup in favor of another that may have more significant playoff implications.
Aside from Week 17, the NFL normally must decide within 12 days whether to flex a game out of the Sunday night primetime slot in favor of another scheduled earlier in the day. But due to tight playoff races in both conferences, the league wants to ensure the most tantalizing matchup is on display for the country to see and is executing a similar window they use for Week 17, when the final game that has the most playoff implications is flexed into the slot.
If the Bears lose to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday and the Minnesota Vikings defeat the Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago would be eliminated from contention, and their game against the Chiefs would be meaningless for them. This would then prompt the NFL to flex them out of the slot. The New Orleans Saints vs. Tennessee Titans game would be the likely selection to be flexed in.
The NFL must make the decision by Monday, Dec. 16. By then, we should have a clear picture as to whether the Bears are in or out of the race for a playoff spot. For now, the Bears and Chiefs are scheduled to kick off Sunday, Dec. 22 at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
