The NFL has made a change to the Week 16 schedule. The New England Patriots‘ Dec. 21 street sport towards the Baltimore Ravens has been flexed into the Sunday night time spot, whereas the Cincinnati Bengals‘ showdown in Miami towards the Dolphins has been moved from Sunday night time to a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
Clearly, the information of every of the groups influenced the league’s choice.
At 11-2, the Patriots at present have the league’s greatest report and are vying to safe the AFC’s high seed heading into the playoffs. And whereas the Ravens are a disappointing 6-7, they’re only a sport behind the Steelers for first place within the AFC North following this previous Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh.
Miami and Cincinnati are technically nonetheless alive so far as making the playoffs, neither group has a successful report by the season’s first 14 weeks. The Dolphins enter subsequent Monday night time’s sport towards the Steelers with a 6-7 report after successful their final 4 video games. Cincinnati is 4-9 after shedding a hard-fought sport this previous Sunday towards the Payments, who’re attempting to catch New England within the AFC East standings.
Information apart, the Bengals-Dolphins sport ought to nonetheless have loads of intrigue because it includes the primary two quarterbacks chosen within the 2020 NFL Draft in Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. Burrow’s profession up to now has included one journey to the Tremendous Bowl and two Comeback Participant of the 12 months awards. Tagovailoa’s highlights in Miami features a passing title in 2023 and being the league’s chief in completion share final 12 months. Each quarterbacks have battled by numerous accidents throughout their first six seasons as properly.
New England’s matchup with Baltimore can even characteristic two high-profile quarterbacks in Drake Maye and Lamar Jackson. Jackson is a two-time league MVP, whereas Maye and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford are the front-runners to presumably win the award this 12 months.
Week 16 will mark the fourth prime time sport this season for the Patriots, who’re on the precipice of clinching their first playoff berth since 2021.
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