Major League Baseball may have long ago ceded the role of “America’s pastime” to the NFL, but the once-dominant league has proven that it can still throw its weight around
The Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens will play the September 5 NFL Kickoff Game on the road due to a scheduling conflict with an Orioles home game, the NFL announced Friday. The NFL hoped to have the Orioles’ 4:05 PM ET start moved up to accommodate the Ravens, but no agreement could be reached.
The defending champion usually hosts the NFL Kickoff Game, but it would perhaps be a stretch to call that a tradition. The Kickoff Game only dates back to 2002, and the defending champion has only hosted since 2004.
The Ravens are scheduled to play the Steelers, Broncos, Bengals, Browns, Bills, Dolphins, Bears and Lions on the road next season. One would imagine that Ravens/Steelers and Ravens/Broncos would be the favorites for the Kickoff Game, of course barring any other unusual conflicts.
(Friday’s news from nfl.com)
