After tons of pressure from the media and the NFL Player’s Association, the NFL has moved three games due to the recent surge in positive tests.
Saturday’s game between the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, along with the Los Angeles Rams–Seattle Seahawks and Washington Football Team–Philadelphia Eagles games have been moved. Browns-Raiders is now on Monday while Rams-Seahawks and Washington-Eagles are on Tuesday.
It’s the first time this season that the NFL has had to move games around. But it’s also the first time in 2021 that there’s been a surge in COVID-19 cases as big as this one.
That being said, it’s been a long time since we had NFL action on a Tuesday night. Some fans are excited for the NFL’s version of “MACtion.”
NFL MACtion! https://t.co/ZSG3oqmI2D
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) December 17, 2021
Tuesday Night Football is BACK. https://t.co/33Mb9E1M18
— zach walsh (@zzachwalsh) December 17, 2021
Others are a tad agitated that the league decided to have the two Tuesday games at the exact same time:
Both Tuesday games at 7pm is really making me agitated https://t.co/aUmQ7y0AmL
— Los’ (@SwagRLoso) December 17, 2021
and put both Tuesday games on at the same time 🤦🏽♂️ https://t.co/V1gu8t42j3
— Mr. Goodbar (@HR_PaperStacks_) December 17, 2021
Fans of the individual teams are obviously annoyed at the sudden turn of events. The teams going through the surge in cases are upset that the NFL didn’t act sooner, while fans of the teams who haven’t been as affected are annoyed that the NFL won’t just let them face the short-handed teams.
Short of canceling games entirely (not the worst idea), there wasn’t much else the NFL could do. But they’re going to have a lot to answer for if we have this situation again in the days to come.