The Minnesota Vikings have been the breakout star of the 2024 NFL season thus far, even after losing their would-be starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, to a season-ending injury. Behind the coaching prowess of head coach Kevin O’Connell, defensive mastermind Brian Flores and quarterback Sam Darnold finally living up to his billing, the Vikings have made for a great story, even coming off their first loss of the season to the Detroit Lions.
The Indianapolis Colts perhaps don’t have that same magic, as QB Anthony Richardson has failed to come on as strong in his second season as the starter. But with Jonathan Taylor likely returning from injury soon, Shane Steichen’s team has gritted through four wins and finds itself right in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race.
With the teams sitting at 5-1 and 4-3, respectively, the NFL is flexing its first game into NBC’s Sunday Night Football this season. Just last week, the league elected to flex Washington Commanders-Chicago Bears into the late national window for Week 8, and now it’s decided on the later national window for Week 9.
🚨WEEK 9 SCHEDULE FLEX 🚨
Colts vs. Vikings will now be played at 8:20pm ET on NBC.
Jaguars vs. Eagles will move to 4:05pm ET on CBS. pic.twitter.com/8l7lROZGTk
— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2024
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Eagles have been flexed yet again.
Initially slated for Week 9’s Sunday Night Football, the Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars have been flexed into a 4:05 p.m. ET afternoon slot on CBS for the same week, which comes just a week after the Eagles-Bengals were flexed in Week 8 in favor of Commanders-Bears.
Is Colts-Vikings a substantial upgrade over Eagles-Jaguars? Not necessarily, but it shows that the NFL wants to do what it can to get Philadelphia out of national windows, especially against teams with a combined 5-9 record heading into Week 8.
It’s only a matter of time before the NFL flexes the Colts out of SNF for Week 11 against the Jets, so this feels like a nice compromise. Plus, the Eagles are still scheduled to play the Los Angeles Rams in a Sunday nightcap come Week 12—for now.
[NFL]
