Monday’s news was a good reminder that the NFL’s schedule is written in pencil, not pen.
The league announced its first flex of the year on Monday, with a planned swap of two games broadcast by CBS in the Week 6 Sunday slate – just under two weeks away.
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The matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers, which was originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff, has been flexed to the late afternoon slate. Its new kickoff time is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET.
Taking its place in the earlier slate of Sunday face-offs is an interconference battle between the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints. That game, which the Saints will still host, will now kick off at 1 p.m. ET.
2025 NFL REGULAR SEASON: Complete week-by-week schedule for 18-week, 17-game slate
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: The New England Patriots’ Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.
Why did the NFL change its schedule?
The choice is likely a result of how the Week 6 Sunday slate is structured in addition to the performances of the four affected teams in the early season.
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Week 6 is another with two “Monday Night Football” games, meaning Sunday’s late-afternoon slate – with matchups scheduled after 4 p.m. ET – features only three games. That means each game will reach a wider national audience.
Given that the Saints are 0-4 and the Patriots are 2-2, their Week 6 meeting is guaranteed to feature at least one team with a losing record. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers and 49ers both appear to be playoff contenders with their matching 3-1 records.
By swapping the two games, the NFL on CBS is providing coverage of a Week 6 game with higher stakes and greater implications to a larger audience of NFL fans in the United States.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL schedule change in Week 6 moves two games to new kickoff times