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A few weeks ago, CBS protected the rights to both showdowns between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs this season, not wanting to lose the massive ratings that those contests will likely receive. Currently, the Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the NFL, and everyone tunes in when Denver's Peyton Manning is on TV.
The NFL announced on Friday, however, that CBS has allowed the NFL to flex Denver's Week 11 game against Kansas City on November 17. Originally slotted to be a daytime game on CBS, the NFL has flexed the game to a 6:30 p.m. MT kickoff on NBC's Sunday Night Football.
CBS had Broncos-Chiefs protected but gave it up voluntarily so national audience could see game. They did not have national window that day.
— Neil Best (@sportswatch) November 1, 2013
Following their Week 11 contest, the Broncos will play the New England Patriots on the road in Week 12 and then travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs again in Week 13. CBS still owns—and likely will not give up—the rights to the Week 13 Broncos/Chiefs game.
The originally slated SNF game for Week 11 (Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants) has been moved to 4:25 ET on FOX. Denver's 2013 schedule now includes six prime time games.