MIAMI — If the NFL's decision to move eight regular-season games to its cable channel created only a ripple of negative fallout last year, the dissatisfaction will increase dramatically this year. Only about 39 percent of the nation's 112 million TV households have NFL Network, whose schedule began Thanksgiving and includes two marquee games: Packers-Cowboys Thursday, and the Patriots' Dec. 29 finale at the Giants.

On a conference call this week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell predictably blamed cable operators and offered no hope: "We don't see any resolution and no negotiations" are ongoing.

At issue: The NFL is irked that Comcast is offering NFL Network only on a tier, packaged with several other sports channels (it's $5 per month in South Florida). But the NFL, legally, hasn't been able to stop that because Comcast had a deal with the network when it moved the channel to a tier.

The NFL is telling cable operators without NFL Network that the channel must be placed on basic cable (like ESPN), not on a tier. Several companies have balked.

Comcast is South Florida's dominant cable provider, with more than 900,000 homes in Miami-Dade and Broward combined. So what if local Comcast subscribers want to order NFL Network for two months (for $10 total), primarily to see Packers-Cowboys and Patriots-Giants? That's OK, Comcast representative Spero Canton said, adding viewers who want the sports tier aren't required to sign up for more than one month.

Comcast subscribers must have digital service to order NFL Network, but Canton said there is no charge to upgrade to "digital starter."

The NFL permits teams in the two home markets to receive NFL Network's games on free television — similar to ESPN games. (For example, WTAE in Pittsburgh is airing Monday night's Steelers game with Miami.)

NFL Network's package also includes Chicago-Washington on Dec. 6, Denver-Houston on Dec. 13 and Cincinnati-San Francisco on Dec. 15. Goodell said there's no chance Patriots-Giants would be moved off NFL Network, even if New England enters 15-0.

Flex scheduling

Of NBC's seven Sunday night games subject to flexible scheduling, only three or four figure to be replaced. Last Sunday, Bears-Seahawks was dumped in favor of Patriots-Bills. (New England draws strong ratings, even in blowouts.)

The next two Sunday games were retained (Eagles-Patriots and Bengals-Steelers), and Redskins-Giants on Dec. 16 seems safe.

Thirteen days before NBC's games in Weeks 11 through 16, the league decides whether to change its assignment. The decision will be made six days before NBC's Week 17 game.

CBS and Fox can each protect five games in Weeks 11 through 16, but not more than one per week. They can't protect any games in Week 17. No teams can appear more than four times on NBC.

Those rules — which are fair to CBS and Fox — have limited flex scheduling's impact. Consider:

At least NBC should get a big game to close the season Dec. 30, when Chiefs-Jets assuredly will be replaced, probably by Lions-Packers or Titans-Colts.