NFL Flexes Packers vs. Bears to Earlier Kickoff Amidst League Schedule Overhaul
The Week 5 NFC North rivalry game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears has been moved to a 1 p.m. ET slot, marking the NFL's first schedule flex of the season.
The National Football League has adjusted its Week 5 schedule, moving the highly anticipated rivalry matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears to an earlier kickoff time. The game, originally slated for an Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET start at Lambeau Field, will now be televised at 1 p.m. ET.
This decision marks the first schedule flex of the NFL season. Following the adjustment, only two games remain in the 4:25 p.m. ET window: the Detroit Lions at the Arizona Cardinals, and the San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks. The NFC West showdown between the Seahawks and the 49ers is now expected to be the marquee national broadcast.
The Packers-Bears game will still be broadcast on Fox.
The league's decision to move the game comes in the wake of a disappointing start to the season for Green Bay. The Packers currently stand at 1-2 after a significant 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. That defeat, which occurred on Thursday Night Football at Lambeau Field, saw the home crowd boo the team off the field.
"It's three games in. We're nowhere where we need to be but there's a lot of ball left in front of us," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters after the loss. "It was a butt-whipping." The Packers' offensive line has struggled to provide protection for quarterback Jordan Love and create running lanes for running back Josh Jacobs, contributing to their early-season struggles. The team also notably missed the presence of defensive player Micah Parsons.
The Bears are also facing quarterback uncertainty. Starting quarterback Caleb Williams is sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, an injury sustained in Week 2. Additionally, backup quarterback Tyson Bagent has been placed in the NFL concussion protocol. These circumstances forced Bears head coach Ben Johnson to rely on veteran third-stringer Case Keenum for their Week 3 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Keenum led the Bears to a 27-7 victory in that game. With Williams still likely to be unavailable for Week 5, the NFL's decision to move the Bears-Packers game to an earlier slot takes into account the team's quarterback situation.