The NFL is facing mounting pressure to pull the upcoming Eagles vs. Cowboys matchup from its Monday Night Football slot, as both teams stumble into the clash with a combined 4-8 record. What was once a marquee rivalry now looks like a battle of the basement, and fans are not shy about voicing their displeasure.
The last two weeks have been brutal for both franchises. The Cowboys were blown out at home by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two Thursdays ago, then followed it with a lifeless offensive showing this past Sunday. The Eagles, meanwhile, are in full crisis mode after losing star quarterback Jalen Hurts to a serious health issue—he's been ruled out for the season with deep vein thrombosis, a condition that can be life-threatening. Tanner McKee got the start against the Carolina Panthers and struggled to generate any momentum.
With two struggling teams set to face off, fans have one clear request: flex the game out of prime time or move it to a less prominent slot. Social media has been flooded with reactions, ranging from sarcastic to outright dismissive. One user on X joked, "@PBS how do we feel about airing this? It'll be interesting to watch trash have a conflict with trash." Another added, "I was gonna say 'somebody gotta win' but unfortunately we've seen with this division that it is somehow not always the case." A third chimed in with, "Nah put that (expletive) on Cartoon Network man," while another asked, "They can't flex this? Like to Sunday at some bs hour?"
Unfortunately for those hoping for a change, it's too late for the NFL to flex this particular game. The league has a narrow window to adjust schedules, and with only days to go, moving the game would be logistically impossible. There are other matchups the NFL could still tweak over the next few days, but this one is locked in.
Even if the NFL wanted to avoid putting a low-quality product in prime time, the reality is that the Eagles and Cowboys are still two of the most popular and diehard fan bases in the league. The league knows these teams draw ratings, even in a down year. That's why the game remains in its prime-time slot, despite the outcry.
The Eagles' situation is particularly dire, as they've placed Hurts on injured reserve, and the fallout from how his condition was handled has sparked angry demands for answers from fans. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have their own issues, with trade decisions that have backfired adding to their woes.
In the end, Monday Night Football will feature two teams fighting for pride more than playoff positioning. But for the NFL, it's a reminder that even the biggest brands can stumble—and that fans will always have something to say about it.
