Steelers, Patriots Week 14 Now Subject To Thursday Night Flex Schedule As NFL Owners Pass New Rule 24-8

While many fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't too happy about having two games on Thursday Night Football in 2023, there is a slight chance that won't be the case as a new proposal has been passed. The NFL will allow schedule flexing for Thursday Night Football games. Even after a few changes from the original proposal, the passed proposal will come with plenty of controversy. There are many different ways this proposal can change the league and there's no doubt that the Steelers will be one of the main teams affected by it.

How Steelers May Be Affected By New Rule

The Steelers will host a pair of Thursday night games in 2023. They'll play against the Tennessee Titans in Week 9 and then the New England Patriots in Week 14. If the NFL wants to flex the Steelers, only the second game will come into play as the new proposal only allows flexing from Weeks 13-17. The Steelers/Patriots game would need to be flexed by November 9th to comply with the league's new flexing rules.

Even though teams can only play a maximum of two games on Thursday Night Football, there's still the possibility of the Steelers being flexed into that time slot if the NFL flexes them out of the Patriots game mentioned above. They could end up being flexed before the Patriots game when they face the Arizona Cardinals, or in weeks 15-17 against the Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, or Seattle Seahawks.

It is still unlikely for the Steelers to get flexed into Thursday Night Football, as only two flexes are allowed per season, meaning if the Steelers do end up getting flexed out, a scenario where they get flexed in would require the NFL to have both flex options affect one team, which is highly unlikely and unfair.

The new idea needed 24 votes to pass, and it barely passed by a final vote of 24-8. Of the eight teams to vote no, Art Rooney II and the Steelers voted no. Rooney has been very vocal about being against any form of Thursday Night Football flexing, as have a handful of other owners. He proved his hate for the idea with his vote to kill the idea. 

Marc Davis and John Mara joined Rooney is speaking out against the idea. The NFL apparently listened to Mara somewhat, as one of his complaints was the deadline to flex each game. The NFL originally wanted to make it a 15-day deadline to flex any Thursday night game, but Mara brought up how that's not enough time to accommodate the fans. Even if the 28-day deadline doesn't accommodate it enough, Roger Goodell did at least listen to some form of logic while getting this terrible proposal to pass.

What do you think of the NFL allowing Thursday Night Football games to be flexed late in the season?, Do you think it will impact the Steelers in 2023? Let us know in the comments below.

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