Yahoo Sports host Andrew Siciliano, senior NFL writer Frank Schwab and senior NFL reporter Jori Epstein discuss the NFL Divisional Round scheduling that has the San Francisco 49ers playing on slightly short week. Check out the full conversation on “Inside Coverage” – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
The NFL needs to be better with scheduling.
They have gotten really lazy the past few years.
At not looking into competitively disadvantaged spots.
They do this often in a regular season, more often than usual.
And this week, the 49ers have every gripe in the world.
The 49ers play Sunday on the East Coast.
Now they have to play the early game in Seattle.
Sometimes it’s unavoidable, like the Monday night game.
Like, they’re not going to make the winner of that play on Saturday.
This was just easy.
You move the Bears and Rams, who both played on Saturday to this Saturday.
You move the Seahawks, 49ers to Sunday.
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Now, why would they not do that?
Well, it…
The answer to that question is always the television partners.
Whenever you ask a question.
Mm-hmm.
… Of, “Why did this league schedule this?”
way?”
The answer’s always television.
But at some point, the NFL needs to stand up and say, Hey, television partner, it doesn’t really matter if you get Bears-49ers Seahawks, or if you get Bears-Rams, or if you get Seattle’s 49ers.
30 million people are gonna watch this, maybe 30.5 million people are gonna watch this.
You’ll be fine either way.
They just got lazy with this.
They…
It was completely avoidable by the NFL.
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And this is a trend for them.
We see it a lot in the regular season, Now we see it in the postseason, when it absolutely, positively should not happen.
Because there are only four games.
Shame on the NFL for letting this happen.
49ers fans, you have a gripe here.
You absolutely can complain as much as you want, no matter how much Andrew Siciliano says you shouldn’t.
I agree and I disagree.
I agree that they have a gripe.
But I would offer this: Do Bills fans and whoever wins Monday Also have a gripe?
Because they’re also playing a short week.
That, that was unavoidable.
I think that was unavoid- one of Those teams had to play on Saturday.
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Why is it unavoidable?
You’re right.
But on the NFC side, unless you’re not going to play on Monday night, which is an argument.
At least one of the Sunday winners has to play Saturday.
Yes.
At least one of them has.
But this was unavoidable.
The NFC side was very easy.
You took the two teams that won on Saturday, put them on this week.
Somebody had to play Saturday from the AFC who plays on a short week.
And it wasn’t going to be the Monday Night game, so.
I, I’m with you.
I just…
It’s just so Yeah, but think who’s making the decision.
I’m with you.
There should have only been two teams playing.
On a short week.
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There, there are three.
I’m with you.
There should only be two.
But I don’t know why the 49ers are any more special than the other two.
I guess that’s my point.
Jory?
What did you think?
I, I, I think the crux of this is that These decisions are not typically made of player health and safety first.
Nor are they typically made of competitive equity first and foremost.
They are made of what will give the networks the most pride and joy.
And what is going to make the league the most money.
And so as long as you have that, you are not going to change this.
And that’s that.
Uh, uh, and I’m arguing with that.
That’s what my argument is.
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It should be about, Hey, guys, we’re gonna get a good game either way.
We’re not giving you some ‘mack game.’
This isn’t Akron versus Buffalo.
Because the Bills have to fly to Denver, we’re giving you a really good game.
Let’s let the 49ers have their property.
The Bills have to fly to Denver.
The 49ers only have a 90-minute flight, not even, to Seattle.
So, just saying.
The 49ers are more…
Uh, the Bills are very banged up as well.