Divisional Playoff Game - Date and Time

The NFL hasn't put out the schedule yet. I suppose the Packers will most likely be the Prime time Game.

Just a hunch but I think the Packers will play the Saturday night game. The #1 seed often gets the extra day of rest, hence the Saturday game. If they get to the Championship game I think that would be the early game.

I think the NFC/Fox gets the two 4:30 games this year, as last year they had the Saturday late game and the Sunday early game.

They can't schedule the four games until they know all four teams hosting them. But my guess is that the NFL would consider SF or New Orleans to be less of a ratings draw than GB, and give them the less good spot. This is especially true if Dallas wins the NFC East and would go to GB if they won their opening playoff game (well, NYC is a big market too). Last year Fox had a choice between Atlanta and Chicago, and must have bet on GB beating Philly to go to Atlanta.

Assuming the AFC/CBS gets the Saturday night and early Sunday games, NE gets the Saturday night slot. Unless Bob Kraft orders otherwise.

Now watch this all be wrong, at which point you're welcome to laugh at me.

Ammo: As the OP wrote, they alternate the order conference championship games so that each year the other network gets the late game. The NFC had the late game after the 2007 and 2009 seasons, and so will get the late game this year. (Remember, GB at Chicago was the first conference championship game last year.)

Well then if you are correct the Packers will play the early game on Sat. The heck with ratings, give the Packers the extra day off.

NE was the #1 seed in the AFC last year, and they didn't get the extra day of rest.

So probably 4:30 Sunday then...I was thinking that too Fedya.
From Lori Nickel article:
In the event that McCarthy gives the team a few days off from practice in that first week of January - since they won't play until Jan. 14 or more likely Jan. 15 for the NFC Divisional playoff round - the players will have to find ways to maintain their fitness levels and also get their rest.

Given the Packers power in ratings I'm thinking lateSaturday game.

quote:

Originally posted by Fedya:
NE was the #1 seed in the AFC last year, and they didn't get the extra day of rest.

Thats why they lost.....

According to this the Packers will have the noon game on Sunday January 15th.

link

From the page you link:

quote:

* Please note that the NFL has not released the times for the playoff games. For the 7th and 8th, we know that the NFL will alternate which conference starts play each day, but we don’t have a guarantee on which conference will play first on the January 7th, etc.

And yet they list the AFC first on both the 7th and 8th.

NBC just put up the schedule for next 2 weeks. We're Sunday January 15 @ 4:30 eastern.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/schedules/postseason

Longest possible wait for next game. So angry!!

3:30 Sunday. SUCK.

Going to be a long two weeks...feel like I have been waiting since the end of the Raiders game really for the next meaningful game...

15-1....

This team is just sick!!

We got shafted. One less Packer game. Last year was wonderful.

On the bright side, no stress this week.

Well??!?! I don't know.....

Do you want to play the Lions or the Falcons/Giants/Cowboys?!?!?

Whadd'ya think?!!??! Might be some stress.

I thought you didn't give a ****.q which team the Packers play next.

The only team I'd rather not face is the Giants, and that's only because of my bias against New York City teams, and the people who shill for them on local sports talk.

giants dont scare me, we beat them in their place and they have been too inconsistent this year.

Same here. People like to talk about how "good" the Giants defense is but only 5 teams allowed more yards per game. The Packers only allowed about 1 more point per game on defense.

On the other side, the Packers score 10 points per game more than the Giants. No reason to fear them or anyone else in the divisional round.

According to the schedule on NFL.COM, the NFC has the late game in the Championship Game too. 5:30PM LFT on the 22nd.

quote:

Originally posted by CitizenDan:
3:30 Sunday. SUCK.

+1

Worst of the 4 choices IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by CitizenDan:
3:30 Sunday. SUCK.

Why? MM likes routine, and playing on Sunday is certainly routine.

MM did mention he would've preferred playing on Saturday to get in 1 extra day of rest if they were fortunate enough to move on to Championship Sunday.

Oh well. I guess he'll just have to live with the Sunday to Sunday schedule.