NFL Explains Why Ravens vs. Bills Received’t Be Primetime, 4 Straight AFC North Video games

It raised eyebrows when the NFL positioned Ravens vs. Bills in Week 8 at 1 p.m., relatively than in primetime.

However, a Ravens-Bills matchup does not want primetime to draw an enormous viewers. That contributed to the NFL’s determination. The league desires to ensure it gives compelling video games within the early afternoon, and Ravens vs. Bills matches that description.

“You could put Baltimore-Buffalo in any of our primetime packages and any one of our partners would have been thrilled to get it, and you might’ve had 18 or 20 million people watching that game,” NFL Vice President of Marketing Mike North mentioned throughout a Friday convention name.

“As a 1 o’clock anchor for CBS, it may get 75% of the country. You might have more people watching that game Sunday on CBS at 1 o’clock than you might have if it was on Monday night or Thursday night. It reaffirms our commitment to keeping Sunday afternoon strong.”

North mentioned there are different primetime-worthy 1 p.m. matchups on the 2026 schedule, such because the Philadelphia Eagles internet hosting the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4 on FOX.

“The 1 o’clock window still matters,” North mentioned. “It matters to the league, it matters to our partners, it matters to our fans.

“We’re not simply going to take the 272 [games] and rank them and take the highest 70 and put them in primetime. Frankly, it speaks to the worth of the Sunday Ticket product. If you wish to catch a Rams-Eagles [game] that week and also you’re getting Texans-Cowboys as an alternative, that is precisely what that product is for.”

The Ravens-Bills rivalry has become one of the league’s best, with MVPs Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen headlining the matchup. The three most recent meetings between the two AFC heavyweights have been on primetime.

North also addressed the Ravens’ schedule being backloaded with AFC North games down the stretch. Baltimore’s final four games are against divisional opponents for the first time in franchise history.

There’s been an increased effort to have divisional opponents face each other late in the season. North doesn’t think four straight AFC North games to close the season is extreme.

“Division video games late within the season all the time matter,” North said. “Throw out the information. If each groups are aggressive, that is spectacular. If just one group is combating for a playoff spot, then the opposite group has all the things to play for now. ‘[If] we will not have an excellent season, the very best factor we are able to do is damage theirs.’

“We love division games late in the season. Here’s hoping that both Steelers-Ravens games down the stretch matter and decide the division. I’m not sure [about] six division games to finish the season. But no hesitation to play more division games late.”