2017 NFL Schedule: Steelers vs. Bengals Week 7 contest flexed to 4:25 time slot

If you are like me, when the NFL schedule was released, one of the most surprising things for the Steelers were the amount of 1 p.m. ET games in the front half of the schedule. It is just rare for a team like the Steelers to not be featured in marquee games. With that said, in the back half of the schedule, the Steelers have a ridiculous number of prime time games.

Well, one of their first half games which was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. ET has now been flexed to the 4:25 p.m. ET time slot. That game would be the Week 7 AFC North showdown between the Steelers and Bengals at Heinz Field.

The NFL holds the rights to flex any game they see fit, but the league and TV companies also hold the ability to protect certain games. For instance, if the NFL wanted to move the Steelers vs. Patriots game this season, CBS would protect the game because they want all those eyeballs watching their game, and not an NBC broadcast.

So, make sure you mark your calendars, because in a few weeks the Steelers and Bengals won’t be kicking off at 1 p.m. ET, but at 4:25 p.m. ET.