Upcoming Bears Matchup Could Soon Be Moved to Primetime After NFL's Flex Decisions
We're seven weeks into the 2024 NFL season and the NFC North is the best division in the league. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are tied atop the division with matching 5-1 records while the Green Bay Packers are third (5-2) followed by the Chicago Bears (4-2).
The NFC North's hot start to the campaign has already forced the NFL to alter its schedule. On Monday, league officials announced that the Minnesota Vikings will now face the Indianapolis Colts in the Week 9 Sunday Night Football matchup. Before the change, the Vikings-Colts clash was supposed to occur at 1 p.m. ET.
Well, it turns out that the NFL isn't done with flexing the NFC North into the primetime spotlight and it's a change that could involve the Bears.
Bears News: NFL Potentially Flexing Week 11 vs. Packers to SNF
Looking ahead, if the Bears keep rolling, the Week 11 matchup against the Packers (currently scheduled for noon at Soldier Field) could be in play for a flex. The SNF game that week is Colts-Jets. https://t.co/xKZ1ttSdOK
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) October 21, 2024
The NFL could consider flexing the Week 11 Packers vs. Bears matchup to the Sunday Night Football spot, per The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain. The SNF spot is currently held by a Colts vs. New York Jets game, however, that could change if Green Bay and Chicago continue their hot starts.
The NFL must give 12 days' notice before flexing games, meaning the Bears will know by November 5 if their Week 11 meeting with the Packers is moved.
Whether or not the divisional showdown is flexed will be determined by how both teams before in the coming weeks. The Packers' next two games are against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Lions before having a bye in Week 10 while the Bears will run the gauntlet against the Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, and New England Patriots.
Regardless of when it takes place, Week 11 will mark the first Packers-Bears meeting of the 2024 campaign. It's been quite the one-sided rivalry for the last decade as Chicago is 2-19 across its last 21 matchups against the Packers, which includes losing the last 10 meetings.
Until we learn more about any potential flex news, the Bears will turn their attention to a Week 8 matchup against the Commanders. The Bears are currently 2.5-point favorites over Washington according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
More Bears news and rumors:
feed
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.