With The NFL Unable To Flex Steelers-Ravens To Sunday Night They Choose Another AFC North Rival

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens is going to be a great showdown. The Ravens and Steelers have clearly established themselves as the two best teams in the AFC North right now. On top of that, these matchups always produce must-watch games with the intensity of the historic rivalry between the Steelers and the Ravens. When NFL fans checked the Week 11 schedule, they realized the prime time Sunday Night Football game featured the Indianapolis Colts playing against the New York Jets.

Steelers’ TJ Watt Lamar Jackson

 

Matt Freed / Post-Gazette

 

Steelers’ TJ Watt sacks Lamar Jackson in a home game against the Baltimore Ravens.

 

With both teams playing poorly in the 2024 season, many pundits wondered if this game would be flexed so fans could see a better matchup in prime time.

 

The NFL has decided to flex the Jets and Colts out of that position and insert the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers.

 

The NFL has flexed Chargers-Bengals to Sunday Night Football in Week 11.

 

 

The Steelers and Ravens game would’ve made sense for a flex, given the rivalry and competitive nature of their encounters. Both teams are vying for playoff positioning, and the excitement surrounding a Steelers-Ravens showdown would undoubtedly elevate the primetime viewing experience.

 

However, per league broadcasting rules, that game won’t be allowed to be moved to Sunday night because the Steelers Ravens next matchup on December 21st is aired on FOX. This eliminates them from the conversation since the other game must be played on CBS.

Steelers’ Patrick Mahomes

 

 

Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes throws the ball while the Steelers defense rushes him.

NFL Missing Out On Thrilling Steelers-Ravens Week 11 Matchup

 

For the NFL, not having the ability to feature the Steelers-Ravens game is a significant loss. With Lamar Jackson playing at an MVP level and the addition of former Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, this game carries added weight. Both teams are having solid seasons, and the playoff implications are substantial, making it a crucial contest in the AFC North.

 

The Steelers also have former Ravens on their roster, which adds another layer to the rivalry. In the 2024 offseason, the Steelers signed linebacker Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41 million deal. They also brought in safety DeShon Elliott, who previously played with the Ravens. Notably, Queen played a role in helping recruit Elliott to come to Pittsburgh. Through the first eight games of the season, Elliott has emerged as a standout performer, further intensifying the stakes in this matchup.

Pittsburgh Steelers Patrick Queen Jaylen Warren

 

Rob Carr / Getty Images

 

Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen tackles Steelers RB Jaylen Warren.

 

The NFL stands to miss out on a potential thriller between the Ravens and the Steelers but it may not matter after all. If they opt to flex the Chiefs-Bills game into primetime, it may overshadow the historic rivalry that fans have come to expect. Although the Steelers have discovered a winning formula, their struggles on offense have made them less appealing for prime time viewing. However, with Russell Wilson at quarterback, the offense has started to show a much more exciting style.

 

@NFL Please flex the Wk 11 Jets/Colts game out of Sunday Night!

 

Ravens/Steelers, Chiefs/Bills, Falcons/Broncos, Bengals/Chargers all much better games..

 

Sincerely,

Jets season ticket holder who is sick of night games..

— Jared Lipsky (@JaredLipsky) November 4, 2024

 

It’s intriguing to note that a NFL broadcast rule exists which immediately disqualifies the Steelers-Ravens matchup from being flexed into a prime time slot. For the Steelers, this game carries significant weight as they aim to hand their former wide receiver a loss and assert their dominance over the Ravens. The stakes are high, and the intensity of this rivalry means that football fans around the world would surely tune in to witness this game unfold.