Remember a few weeks ago when the road game against the New York Giants was moved from 1 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Sunday? That was a decision by NFL, which used its “flexible scheduling” in the season's final weeks to shift big matchups to primetime.
With the Panthers again slated for a night game, we wondered if the NFL liked what they saw in that Giants game and made sure that Carolina again took the field after dark. Nope, said Mark Washburn, the Observer's resident media expert.
The NFL schedules its playoff games well in advance, he said, slotting certain seeds at certain times. This year, that means the AFC No. 1 (Titans) Saturday afternoon, the NFC No. 2 (Panthers) Saturday night, the NFC No. 1 (Giants) early Sunday afternoon and the AFC No. 2 (Steelers) late Sunday afternoon. So if the Panthers had beaten the Giants in that Dec. 21 game, they'd be playing this Sunday, not Saturday.After locking the seeds and times in place, Washburn said, the NFL doesn't look at moving games around based on who's playing. The Cowboys and Redskins could be adding another chapter to their blood feud, he said, and the league wouldn't try to shift that game to the best time slot.
But what is the best time slot? We know that local tourism and hospitality folks love the Saturday night game. Fans will pre-party in bars and eat in restaurants before the game, they say, while others will stay in hotels afterward.
What about the rest of you fans -- either going to the game or watching at home? Is Saturday night the best of the four time slots available this weekend? Or were you hoping for a Sunday game, and if so, early or late?
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Seriously? I'd be there if the game was played at 7AM on a Tuesday! Saturday or Sunday, day or night. It's irrelevant...
ReplyDeleteIt definately the best time slot--but the worst match up. Carolina 48 Arizona 21. Go Panthers. Titans/Ravens game will be the best this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI wish all of our games were on Saturday night. Are you kidding me?
ReplyDeleteA question: has the NFL already determined whether the NFC or AFC championship game will be played first next Sunday? I'm assuming they wait to see which of the remaining "home" teams are on the east and west coast. Am I wrong?
ReplyDeleteNFC goes first at 3pm, AFC at 6:30pm.
ReplyDeleteAnd Saturday night is great as there is no need to get up at 6am on Sunday.
I agree with the 1st post. I'd be there whenever, but with the rain coming in, I called off my tailgating plans and will be in a downtown bar before the game. Section 547 will be loud! GO PANTHERS!!
ReplyDeleteI'd rather a 1 pm Sunday gametime always.
ReplyDeleteHello, McFly....is anybody in there? Folks, the bottom line is that YOUR Panthers are playing in January!!!! Wake up. Smell the coffee. Enjoy the ride. Who cares if it's Saturday or Sunday, early or late? Sheesh.
ReplyDelete2 for 1 special. I'm coming in from Raleigh and start with the 1 pm Checkers game at Bobcats Arena, eat dinner uptown, football game at 8:15, then back to Raleigh in the morning.
ReplyDeletei'm gonna be in a bar downtown, drunk and happy as hell. saturday night is the perfect time for carolina to demolish arizona. people are always complaining about charlotte's nightlife and how bland it is....well this saturday night..we will be one of the 4 most happening citys in the country. Chew on that america!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf it rains tommorrow then it wont matter what time the game is being played because half the stadium will be empty.
ReplyDeleteBalance !!! I would second that!!! Alot of people will be on the band wagon this weekend but as long as the team plays in the post season, I could careless of the time, place, or opponent. GO CATS!!!!
ReplyDeleteI like pizza.
ReplyDeleteI would sit in the rain!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your playoff loss cats, Jake the Fake will come through again. Since it will be raining sure I will see lots of blue seats, can't get you fancy clothes wet.
ReplyDeleteOh, 8:15 pm is a horible time when you have little kids.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm in dry Arizona and it will be a 6:15 game; like a nice evening game here at least. Maybe the Cards won't be sleeping for the eastern game this time?
Go Cards!! IF the panthers win, I hope they choke on a red tail feather :) Good luck to ya, be safe.
Cards 28 Panthers 20
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a great game, but the Cards will win. Delhomme can't handle prime time.
Saturday night games = Best tailgate ever!
ReplyDeleteNotice to the Charlotte Observer editing team...the NFL logo has been changed/updated this year. You may want to get a copy.
ReplyDeleteSaturday night is a treat, it's Party-Time... late into the night after a BIG Panthers win without worrying about getting up for work. GOOOOO PANTHERS~!!!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many visitors will end up getting FREAKIN PLOWED in the bars with so much time on their hands and end up calling RALLLLLLPH in their motel room?
ReplyDeleteBy 8:15 there are gonna be some hammered fans from both sides there, they won't even know it was raining till tomorrow ha ha.
I'll be real happy to watch it from home just as we always do.
Ya'll who are going have a good and safe as possible time and Go Panthers!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice call on the logo. They're just happy right now to have something to talk about.
ReplyDeleteSNL....no comparison.you can get all of your errands run during the day, have dinner and go enjoy the game.
ReplyDeleteI am convinced the noise, the colors and electricity are. more pronounced in the evening.
The fans seem relaxed, happy and for most, we don't have to go to work Sunday.
Now if the weather gods will cooperate !
A win or loss doesn't depend on the fans opinion of when game time should be. We should be more concerned with when the optimum time to play benefits Carolina and might be difficult for our opponents. That should be the determining factor for Panther fans. I'm sure some of our players play better earlier in the day than at night and viceversa.
ReplyDeleteThe cards should stay in the hotel room for a chance to win on x-box. They have no shot to win this game. There players are old and dried up they have nothing left. That D can't stop anyone i see us getting 47 or more points.They keep talking about how great Wilson is huh the guy can't tackle or cover. What a joke this team is.
ReplyDeletePat Kirwan breaks it down in his latest offseason position rankings: Who is the NFL's best interior defensive lineman? is it True??
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