:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57319423/632616002.0.jpg)
I’m going to count this as a win regardless of how the game plays out.
CBS protected the week 15 showdown between the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers so it cannot be flexed to prime time on NBC. It will still be played at 4:25 PM ET in Pittsburgh.
The #NFL has confirmed the #Steelers vs. #Patriots game on Dec. 17 (Week 15) has been protected (cannot be flexed to a different time) & will be played @heinzfield as scheduled at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) October 25, 2017
The Patriots and Steelers are expected to be in a battle for homefield advantage in the AFC and, with the Kansas City Chiefs in the mix, the week 15 game could be a deciding factor between homefield advantage and playing during wild card weekend.
Starting in week 5, NBC is allowed to flex games from the afternoon slot to the nighttime window to ensure the best possible game is broadcast to the widest audience. CBS and FOX are allowed to “protect” games down the stretch (weeks 11-16) to keep their priority game of the week. CBS reasonably decided to protect the Patriots-Steelers game.