As the NFL gets ready to head into the final month of the season, it’s made some changes when it comes to trying to ensure the most compelling match-ups are the ones placed into the spotlight.
Oddly enough, the Patriots suddenly fall into that category, and they’ve found themselves with another prime-time slate thanks to a change on Monday by the league.
The NFL flexed the Week 16 game against the Ravens into the Sunday Night slot, with New England’s showdown in Baltimore now set for 8:20 pm on December 21st.
That game replaces the original match-up between the Dolphins and Bengals, with both Miami (6-7) and Cincinnati (4-9) getting kicked back to a 1:00 pm start time, as neither is considered a contender. Instead, the battle between the Patriots and Ravens will be the one everyone will get to see on Sunday Night Football, with that match-up also likely having significant postseason implications.
The move puts the Patriots back on the national stage for the fourth time this season, with New England already having played the Bills, Jets, and Giants in primetime. The Patriots most recently beat the Giants 33-15 at Gillette Stadium back on December 1st prior to entering their bye week.
Until then, New England faces a tough battle this weekend, with the Patriots sitting with an opportunity to clinch the AFC East with a win over Buffalo when the Bills visit Gillette Stadium. Kickoff for that game is currently set for 1:00 pm.
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
