Last year, the NFL took advantage of the literal language of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to stage a Week 1 Friday night game, from Brazil. That loophole applies again this year.

Next year, it does not.

The SBA’s ban on televising Friday night or Saturday games doesn’t activate until the second weekend in September. Last year, and this year, the NFL’s season openers coincided with the first weekend in September.

It’s all about when Labor Day lands. If it’s on September 1, September 2, or September 3, the first Friday of the NFL season lands on the first Friday in September. (Until, of course, the NFL moves the start of the season back to Labor Day Weekend. Which feels inevitable.)

In a Tuesday conference call with reporters, Executive Vice President and COO of NFL Media Hans Sch

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