Monday's news was a good reminder that theNFL's scheduleis written in pencil, not pen. The league announced its first flex of the year on Monday, with a planned swap of two games broadcast by CBS in theWeek 6Sunday slate – just under two weeks away. The matchup between theTampa Bay BuccaneersandSan Francisco 49ers, which was originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff, has been flexed to the late afternoon slate. Its new kickoff time is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET. Taking its place in the earlier slate of Sunday face-offs is an interconference battle between theNew England PatriotsandNew Orleans Saints. That game, which theSaintswill still host, will now kick off at 1 p.m. ET. 2025 NFL REGULAR SEASON:Complete week-by-week schedule for 18-week, 17-game slate Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13. The choice is likely a result of how the Week 6 Sunday slate is structured in addition to the performances of the four affected teams in the early season. Week 6 is another with two "Monday Night Football" games, meaning Sunday's late-afternoon slate – with matchups scheduled after 4 p.m. ET – features only three games. That means each game will reach a wider national audience. Given that the Saints are 0-4 and the Patriots are 2-2, their Week 6 meeting is guaranteed to feature at least one team with a losing record. Meanwhile, theBuccaneersand49ersboth appear to be playoff contenders with their matching 3-1 records. By swapping the two games, the NFL on CBS is providing coverage of a Week 6 game with higher stakes and greater implications to a larger audience of NFL fans in the United States. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL schedule change in Week 6 moves two games to new kickoff times
