SEAHAWKS-BRONCOS "FLEX" INTO 'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL,' DEC. 3

"SNF" Returns to Denver for the 3rd Time This Season

NEW YORK � November 20, 2006 � The National Football League today announced the Seattle Seahawks at the Denver Broncos game on December 3, previously listed for 1 p.m. ET, was selected to be moved to Sunday Night, an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC as part of the NFL's new Flexible Schedule.

The Seahawks are in first place in the NFC West (6-4) and the Broncos are in second place in the AFC West (7-3). This will be the third trip to Denver this season for "NBC Sunday Night Football," and the Broncos second appearance in a "Flex Game." This will be the second Sunday Night appearance for the Seahawks this season and their first during the "Flexible Schedule."

The Broncos are in second-place in the AFC West after last night's tough home loss to division rival San Diego on "Sunday Night Football." The Broncos feature one of the NFL's best defenses, ranking fourth in points allowed (14.6) and fifth in rushing yards allowed (90.1). The Broncos will be going into the Dec. 3 Sunday Night game off of a long week with 10 days to prepare for the Seahawks after playing in Kansas City this Thursday, Thanksgiving night.

The Seahawks, the defending NFC champions, look to bounce back as their offensive stars are returning from injuries. RB Shaun Alexander, last season's NFL MVP, is back after breaking a bone in his left foot in Week 3. QB Matt Hasselbeck is also on his way back from a right knee injury (strained MCL) sustained in Week 7. The Seahawks will face the Green Bay Packers in Seattle this week before traveling to Denver for the Sunday Night contest.

ABOUT FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING:

The NFL this season is implementing for the first time in its history a primetime "flexible scheduling" element on Sundays in Weeks 10-15 and in Week 17 to ensure quality matchups with playoff implications in those weeks and give surprise teams a chance to play their way onto Sunday Night. The NFL will announce the flex game no later than 12 days prior, except for Week 17, which will be announced no later than six days before, to ensure that the final regular season Sunday Night game has playoff implications.