The reigning champions’ lackluster performances prompt league to flex Saturday night game in favor of heated NFC North rivalry
The National Football League has delivered a clear verdict on the Philadelphia Eagles’ recent struggles: they’re no longer worthy of primetime attention. In a scheduling shake-up announced Tuesday, the league stripped the reigning Super Bowl champions of their coveted Saturday night slot, relegating them to an early evening kickoff while promoting a more compelling divisional showdown.
The decision represents a rare mid-season rebuke for a franchise that dominated headlines throughout 2024. Philadelphia’s matchup against the Washington Commanders, originally slated for 8:20 p.m. ET on Dec. 20, will now begin at 5 p.m. ET—a three-hour demotion that speaks volumes about the team’s declining entertainment value.
Eagles’ Recent Stumbles Trigger Schedule Adjustment
Philadelphia enters the final stretch of the regular season carrying an 8-4 record, but consecutive losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears have exposed vulnerabilities that weren’t apparent earlier in the campaign. Despite maintaining their grip on first place in the NFC East, Jalen Hurts and his teammates have failed to generate the excitement that once made them appointment viewing for football fans nationwide.
The franchise that hoisted the Lombardi Trophy just months ago now finds itself overshadowed by a more intriguing narrative unfolding in the NFC North. The league’s flex scheduling option—designed to maximize viewer engagement by promoting the most compelling matchups—has caught Philadelphia in its crosshairs.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed the scheduling change, noting that the Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears contest would assume the primetime slot vacated by Philadelphia. The move underscores how quickly fortunes can shift in professional football, where yesterday’s champions become today’s also-rans if performances don’t meet expectations.
Commanders Spiral Continues Amid Seven-Game Skid
Washington’s participation in this demoted contest adds another layer of disappointment to the scheduling decision. The Commanders entered 2025 brimming with confidence after reaching the NFC Championship game last season, but those Super Bowl aspirations have crumbled spectacularly amid a seven-game losing streak.
The franchise now stumbles through the season with a dismal 3-9 record, transforming what should have been a marquee divisional rivalry into a lopsided affair lacking competitive drama. Philadelphia’s struggles notwithstanding, the Eagles remain prohibitive favorites against an opponent that appears to have completely lost its way.
The combination of Philadelphia’s mediocre form and Washington’s catastrophic collapse created the perfect storm for the NFL’s scheduling department to seek alternatives. The league’s primary objective—delivering compelling television to maximize ratings and advertising revenue—simply couldn’t be met by this particular matchup.
NFC North Battle Captures National Spotlight
The Packers-Bears rivalry now assumes center stage, offering everything the Philadelphia-Washington contest lacks: playoff implications, competitive balance, and genuine drama. Chicago, guided by first-year head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, sits atop the NFC North with a 9-3 record that has exceeded most preseason projections.
Green Bay trails by just half a game with an 8-3-1 record, setting up a clash that could determine division supremacy heading into the postseason. The Packers bring decades of organizational excellence to the matchup, while the Bears represent an upstart program trying to reclaim relevance after years of mediocrity.
Williams, selected first overall in the 2024 draft, has validated Chicago’s faith with performances that suggest the franchise finally found its long-term answer at quarterback. His development under Johnson’s innovative offensive system has transformed the Bears into legitimate contenders, creating exactly the type of compelling narrative the NFL craves for primetime exposure.
Philadelphia Retains Monday Night Showcase
The scheduling demotion doesn’t completely eliminate Philadelphia from primetime consideration. The Eagles remain scheduled for a Week 14 “Monday Night Football” appearance against the Los Angeles Chargers, providing them an opportunity to demonstrate they belong among the league’s elite attractions.
That December matchup will test whether Philadelphia can recapture the form that made them champions or whether their recent struggles represent a more troubling trend. For now, the NFL has made its position abundantly clear: performances matter, and reputation alone won’t guarantee primetime placement in an increasingly competitive entertainment landscape.
Source: Newsweek