Two Week 17 games have had kickoff times swapped, the NFL announced on Monday.
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are now playing at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday while the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
“The NFL announced a kickoff time change to a couple of games in Week 17,” NFL insider Adam Schefter shared on X.
Schedule change: NFL shifted Sunday’s Cowboys-Eagles game to 1 pm ET and the Packers-Vikings game to 4:25 pm ET.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 23, 2024
Though the Cowboys are always a ratings draw, especially against a division rival, they are no longer in the playoff race.
Philadelphia, however, can clinch the NFC East title with a win over Dallas. It defeated the Cowboys by a score of 31-29.
The Vikings are hunting the No. 1 seed in the NFC and are facing a Packers team that’s likely to make the dance.
Minnesota is tied atop the NFC North with the Detroit Lions at 13-2 — both of which are one game behind the Kansas City Chiefs for the NFL‘s best overall record.
The Vikings are rolling on an eight-game win streak after a dramatic 27-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16 in which quarterback Sam Darnold ziplined a game-winning touch pass to Justin Jefferson in the fourth quarter.
“I’m not gonna say too much about that play, but just something went on to where pretty much me and Sam were on the same page, and [he] just found me and we went up,” Jefferson said. “[There’s] not really a secret to it or a formula. It’s all about going out there making plays and executing.”
Darnold went 22-of-35 passing with 246 yards, three touchdowns, and no turnovers in the win. He has been one of the league’s biggest surprises this season, enjoying a breakout campaign in his seventh NFL season.
Since being signed to a one-year contract by Minnesota to be the backup to J.J. McCarthy, the newly acquired prize draft pick whose season ended due to injury in the preseason, Darnold has managed the offense masterfully.
In doing that, he of course has established a must-see television rapport with Justin Jefferson.
“I felt like I just needed to give him a shot, put it on his back hip, and let him do the rest,” Darnold said about him and Jefferson’s second touchdown connection on the day.
The Packers will be tasked with defending this synergy as they sit in third place at 10-4 in the ruthless NFC North.
Green Bay will be on a short week after taking on the New Orleans Saints on “Monday Night Football” in Week 16.
Like the Vikings, it is also fresh off of a victory against the Seahawks, beating them 30-13 in Week 15.
For more on the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
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