NFL teams often get recognized by the national TV networks like players in pursuit of a Pro Bowl berth: A year late.
For example, when the Bears went 12-4 in 2018, Fox didn’t assign them a crew higher than fourth on its depth chart until Week 13, and it didn’t give them its top crew until Week 17.
With soaring expectations for the Bears entering last season, Fox gave them its top crew in Week 7, in addition to national broadcasts on Thanksgiving and the following Thursday night.
The Bears were embarrassed by the Saints in Week 7, and talk eventually turned to whether they would be flexed out of Sunday night games on NBC.