NFL scheduling isn't always the most interesting process, but there was a lot of maneuvering involved in creating this week's television slate. The Indianapolis Colts at the New England Patriots was original scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday Night Football, which preseason looked to be another Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning matchup. However, Manning is nowhere near returning, and the Colts are 0-11 so the game was dropped.
NBC used flex scheduling to select the Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints, but this left Fox with just two early games on a doubleheader day, and one of those games was the Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So CBS with seven early games gave Fox the right to broadcast the Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings.
Fox was able to protect the Green Bay Packers at New York Giants for America's Game of the Week, while CBS is sending the C crew to the New York Jets at Washington Redskins game they protected. The full LA broadcast schedule after the jump:
CBS:
Early: Oakland Raiders @ Miami Dolphins
FOX:
Early: Denver Broncos @ Minnesota Vikings
Late: Green Bay Packers @ New York Giants
NBC:
SNF: Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints
With the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night football, CBS was free to give LA football fans the AFC West leading Raiders. Tim Tebow and the Broncos and Aaron Rodgers and the Packers should make for an entertaining Fox slate.