Roger Goodell is playing chess, not checkers.
The NFL’s first ever game in Brazil took place on Friday night with the Philadelphia Eagles topping the Green Bay Packers, 34-29.
The fact that it’s the first game being played in South America in NFL history isn’t the only unique thing about the game. It’s also notable the game was played on Friday in Week 1. It’s the first time in 54 years the NFL played a game on Friday during the opening week of the season.
The last time it happened came in 1970 when the Rams beat the Cardinals, 34-13, in a game that was played on a Friday night in Los Angeles.
One reason there’s been such a huge gap between Friday games is because it’s not easy for the NFL to schedule a Friday game during the regular season. As a matter of fact, the only reason it’s happening this year is because the league is taking advantage of a broadcasting loophole.
Under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, the NFL isn’t allowed to televise any games on Friday or Saturday from the second weekend in September through the second weekend in December (Those two days have been earmarked for high school and college football).
The reason the NFL is also able to play on Black Friday is because of another loophole in the broadcasting rule. Under the Sports Broadcasting Act, the NFL is allowed to schedule a Friday game as long as a substantial portion of the game is over by 6 p.m. local time.
This is why the NFL’s first Black Friday game kicked off at 3 p.m. ET in 2023 and it’s also why the Chiefs and Raiders will be kicking off at 3 p.m. ET on Black Friday this year.
With Labor Day set to fall on Sept. 1 in 2025, the NFL could conceivably play another Friday opener in another foreign country to start the season.
