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NFL Changing Week 17 'Sunday Night Football' Game

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Dec 17, 2024 1:51 PM ET

While we may have to wait until Week 17 to find out which NFL teams will play in the Week 18 season finale of Sunday Night Football, the league has decided to make a change to the teams playing in Week 17 itself.

Per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the league announced that it has pulled the Miami Dolphins vs. Cleveland Browns game from its initially scheduled Week 17 slot on NBC. Replacing it will be a game between the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders, which had initially been slated for 1 p.m. of that day.

"Flex: NFL has moved the Dolphins-Browns game out of Sunday Night Football in Week 17 and replaced it with Falcons vs. Commanders," Schefter wrote.

Flex: NFL has moved the Dolphins-Browns game out of Sunday Night Football in Week 17 and replaced it with Falcons vs. Commanders.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2024

The Browns have long-since been eliminated from playoff contention while the Dolphins are hanging by a thread at best. A game between them doesn't really warrant an appearance on prime time this late in the season.

The Falcons-Commanders game, on the other hand, has a lot more juice to it.

For the Falcons, they remain in an absolute dogfight for the NFC South title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They also have a quarterback in Kirk Cousins who has been trying hard to get over a slump and recently snapped a month-long losing streak.

As for the Commanders, they're continuing their chase for a first playoff appearance since 2020 and have one of the most exciting young quarterbacks leading them in rookie Jayden Daniels.

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 20: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at FedExField on October 20, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Granted, the playoff picture for both teams could change significantly between now and Week 17, but even if the stakes aren't quite the same in 12 days from now.

That said, it still might not be the most compelling possible game that the NFL could have put on. The Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings game would have been a much better option in terms of stakes, while the New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills would have been a duel of past and future MVP quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers vs. Josh Allen.

But NBC and the NFL probably want to save an appearance by the Minnesota Vikings for Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, the Jets-Bills game is much less compelling when you consider that the Jets are 4-10 and among the worst teams in football.

Do you think the NFL got it right with this schedule change?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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