2 Patriots' Rivals Denied Single Prime-Time Game For First Time Since 2011

TL;DR

For the first time since 2011, the New England Patriots' rivals will not have a single prime-time game scheduled. This decision reflects the changing dynamics in the AFC East as the league prepares for the upcoming season.

Key points

Patriots' rivals denied prime-time games for the first time since 2011
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell opted out of covering weaker teams
Schedule release day has become chaotic with leaks

New England Patriots safety Brenden Schooler

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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). This is the first time since 2011 that the NFL has deemed this many teams essentially unwatchable in a single season.

Four of those five teams had a pitiful total of three wins last season. But Miami actually finished with seven Ws. However, in the months since, Miami has fired its head coach, traded their No. 1 wide receiver and is expected to part ways with both Tua Tagovailo and Tyreek Hill.

I, for one, am eternally grateful that the league will not force me to spend another Sunday night watching Geno Smith.

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Q&A

Why are the Patriots' rivals not getting prime-time games this year?

The NFL has opted not to schedule any prime-time games for the AFC East's two weakest teams, indicating a shift in focus towards more competitive matchups.

When was the last time the Patriots' rivals had no prime-time games?

This is the first time since 2011 that the Patriots' rivals have been denied a single prime-time game.

What does this mean for the AFC East teams' performance?

The lack of prime-time games suggests that the league views the AFC East teams as less competitive, impacting their visibility and potential revenue.