NFL Announces Major Week 6 Schedule Change That’ll Make Every Fan Very Happy


Roger Goodell (Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
The NFL announced a significant schedule change for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-San Francisco 49ers Week 6 game at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 12.

Initially, the San Francisco 49ers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers showdown was set for an early afternoon kickoff at 1:00 p.m. EST. But according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, that game was moved to the prime 4:25 p.m. EST slot on CBS.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints game at the Caesars Superdome was rescheduled from its original 4:25 p.m. EST slot to 1:00 p.m. EST.

The 49ers (3-1) and Buccaneers (3-1) are among the best teams in the NFC. The Patriots are 2-2 after a blowout win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, but the Saints are now 0-4 after a road loss to the Buffalo Bills.

CBS also has the Green Bay Packers-Cincinnati Bengals game in a 4:25 p.m. slot on Week 6. The other late afternoon game, carried by Fox, will feature the Tennessee Titans visiting the Las Vegas Raiders in a less-appealing matchup at 4:05 p.m.

As reported by ESPN in March, NFL owners voted for changes to the league’s flexing rules for “Thursday Night Football” games. The league can now change ‘TNF’ games 21 days in advance, down from 28 days previously.

San Francisco 49ers & Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game Carries Major Playoff Implications

Brock Purdy and Baker Mayfield (Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

The 49ers and Buccaneers are among the two best clubs in the NFC, with both just a few bounces away from being 4-0. The 49ers are in a three-way tie for first in the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, while the Buccaneers sit atop the NFC South.

Tampa Bay and San Francisco have been among the NFC’s premier clubs since 2019, combining for three NFC championships, a Super Bowl victory (the Bucs in SB 55) and seven division titles.

Both teams are in the running for the NFC’s top seed, so the Week 6 showdown could very well determine home advantage in a potential January meeting.