NY Post Column Criticizes NFL Scheduling as Jets, Giants Open Simultaneously

A New York Post sports column on Saturday criticized the NFL’s scheduling after the New York Giants and New York Jets were both slated to open their seasons Sunday with 1 p.m. kickoffs on different television networks.

The column argued that assigning both local teams to the same early time window effectively divides the market and reflects broader league priorities tied to television revenue. The piece cited a comment attributed to Commissioner Roger Goodell — “It’s all about our fans” — as evidence of a disconnect between the league’s public messaging and its scheduling decisions.

The column said the practice of placing both teams in the same early window will occur frequently this season and described the early regional telecasts as being allocated to teams the author characterized as lesser-regarded. It noted that, historically, the league avoided assigning both teams in a two-team market to overlapping regional windows so as not to split local viewership, but that the practice has changed as television rights and scheduling flexibility have evolved.

The Post’s piece framed the situation as part of a broader tension between the NFL and its audience, arguing the league’s television partners and national broadcast arrangements shape local start times in ways that may not align with season-ticket holders’ or local viewers’ interests. The column used strong language in criticizing the league’s leadership and described the scheduling outcome as evidence that broadcast considerations are often decisive.

NFL scheduling is governed by contracts with broadcast partners and by an annual process that assigns games to regional and national time slots. League officials have in the past defended scheduling decisions as efforts to balance competitive fairness, broadcast commitments and fan access; the Post column, however, presented the weekend’s arrangements as a counterexample to that rationale.

The dual 1 p.m. starts for the Jets and Giants are set for Sunday, with each team appearing in a separate regional telecast carried by different networks. The scheduling has already drawn commentary from media and fans in the New York market, where both teams command significant local interest. The column concluded that the pattern of early-window assignments and the division of the market highlight ongoing questions about how the NFL balances the priorities of broadcast partners, fans and teams as the regular season begins.