The NFL's schedule release is its annual flex that the league dominates the American sports psyche.
The league announces dates involving a collection of matchups that are already known and turns it into an event that fans, media and social media can't resist. This week, the league took things up a notch and released an announcement on Monday, confirming that yes, indeed, Schedule will be announced as per schedule on Thursday.
It has since joined the annual leak party, with select game dates officially announced ahead of Thursday's actual schedule release. Wednesday set the date for one of the most anticipated games of the season — the NFC Championship Game rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers.
The teams will face off again on December 3 in Philadelphia at 4:25 PM ET for a Week 13 matchup. The Eagles and 49ers issued coordinated social media announcements Wednesday evening announcing the date. The Eagles, which dominated a hobbled 49ers team in last season's championship, clearly earned a social media flak and pushed their announcement to nearly two minutes. Earlier San Francisco.
The Week 13 date sets up a potentially high-stakes clash in the thick of the playoff race if both teams live up to high preseason expectations. This is really the ability to be a doodler. But that's not the only game date the league released ahead of schedule on Wednesday. Other late-season premium matchups also got the early treatment:
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets: 3 p.m. ET, November 24 (Week 12)
-New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles: 4:30 p.m. ET, December 25 (Week 16)
cincinnati bengals at Kansas City Chiefs: 4:25 PM ET, December 31 (Week 17)
As there were five international games, two games were played in London with the Jacksonville Jaguars:
-Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (London): 9:30 AM ET, October 1 (Week 4)
-Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills (London): 9:30 AM ET, October 8 (Week 5)
-Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans (London): 9:30 AM ET, October 15 (Week 6)
-Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Frankfurt, germany): 9:30 am ET, November 5 (Week 9)
-Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots (Frankfurt, Germany): 9:30 am ET, Nov. 12 (Week 10)