Potential flex schedule games for the 2023 NFL season

A big change to the NFL schedule this season is the expansion of flexible scheduling to "Monday Night Football" from Weeks 12-17.

As a refresher, two games on "Sunday Night Football" from Weeks 5-10 can be impacted by flex scheduling as well as any Sunday night game from Weeks 11-17.

While plenty of the prime-time games in 2023 are promising, others look like potential clunkers. 

Here's a glimpse at the games that could end up on the move and which ones should take their place. 

Week 8: Bears at Chargers. Replacement: Jets at Giants

Chargers QB Justin Herbert is worthy of prime time, but are the Bears? To be fair, they could be a fun team. Then again, "fun" and "the Chicago Bears" aren't two concepts that traditionally go together. Jets-Giants might be more attractive. Another possibility would be Chiefs-Broncos. If Sean Payton has the kind of impact Denver is hoping, that will be must-see TV. It's scheduled for CBS, as is a potentially great game between the Bengals and the 49ers. We're guessing the network blocks Bengals-49ers from going anywhere and lets NBC pick between Jets-Giants and Chiefs-Broncos. In that scenario, the battle for New York gets the flex.

Week 10: Jets at Raiders. Replacement: Lions at Chargers

Herbert gets a worthy opponent and we're spared from "Sunday Night Football" becoming "The New York Jets Football Show." It's a win-win.

Week 11: Vikings at Broncos. Replacement: Raiders at Dolphins

As with the Chargers, the Raiders don't lose out on a prime-time game. We also get Josh McDaniels vs. Mike McDaniel. The loser changes his last name.

Week 12: Bears at Vikings ("MNF"). Replacement: Browns at Broncos

Other options here include Saints-Falcons, Patriots-Giants and Chiefs-Raiders, but a lot could be at stake in Browns-Broncos. Both are fringe playoff contenders at best in a loaded AFC, and a loss here could knock either out of the race for good.

Week 13: No replacement

Chiefs-Packers isn't going anywhere as the league likely has no interest in taking Patrick Mahomes off prime time, especially in a game at historic Lambeau Field. Monday night's Bengals-Jaguars game features Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence, another obvious keeper.

Week 14: Titans at Dolphins / Packers at Giants (both "MNF"). Replacements: Anything else.

After losing seven consecutive games to end last season, the Titans shouldn't be scheduled outside of the Sunday afternoon window until they win a game. And two weeks of Green Bay in prime time seems a tad bit cruel. Give us anything else on this week's slate instead. We'll even take the Bears (hosting the Lions) and the Vikings (at the Raiders).

Week 15: No replacement

Ravens-Jaguars is a rematch of one of the best regular-season games in 2022, a 28-27 Jaguars win. That's staying on Sunday night. And so is Chiefs-Patriots the following day. 

Week 16: No replacement

Patriots-Broncos is a solid choice for "Sunday Night Football." on Christmas Eve. The two teams might not be expected to compete for a championship, but a game with head coaches Bill Belichick and Sean Payton on opposite sidelines is always a great battle of the minds. 

Week 17: Packers at Vikings. Replacement: Dolphins at Ravens

The rematch of Miami's incredible 42-38 win over Baltimore in Week 2 last season would look a lot better in prime time than tucked away in the 1 p.m. ET slot. Trust us, NFL. Fans would much rather watch Tua Tagovailoa and Lamar Jackson jockeying for playoff positioning instead of Jordan Love and Kirk Cousins battling for a better spot in the 2024 NFL Draft.