2 Patriots' Rivals Denied Single Prime-Time Game For First Time Since 2011
The AFC East is being carried by the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills.
2 Patriots' Rivals Denied Single Prime-Time Game For First Time Since 2011 originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The schedule release "day" has become a circus.
The week leading up to the release day is littered with leaks, and by the time the team gets to make their official announcements, fans can piece together a majority of the slate. Of all the antics that took place this week, I think my favorite development is NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell completely opting out of covering the AFC East's two weakest teams. The New England Patriots are scheduled to be subjected to five prime-time games next season.
This includes the NFL kickoff on Wednesday, Sept. 9, an international game, a Thursday Night Football clash and a Monday Night Football trip to Kansas City. The Buffalo Bills are in similar territory.
They've got an early-season Thursday Night Football game, a pair of Monday Night Football games, the Thanksgiving Day nightcap, as well as a Christmas Day clash. But as far as the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins are concerned, it's crickets. The pair make up two of five total teams that are not slated to play a standalone game (thank God).