The NFL has adjusted its Week 16 schedule by moving the New England Patriots' road game against the Baltimore Ravens to the Sunday night slot on December 21. This change replaces the Cincinnati Bengals' matchup with the Miami Dolphins, which shifts to a 1 p.m. ET kickoff. The decision highlights the Patriots' strong 11-2 record as they pursue the AFC's top seed.
The NFL announced changes to its Week 16 schedule on Monday, flexing the New England Patriots versus Baltimore Ravens game from a 1 p.m. slot to 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday Night Football. Scheduled for December 21 at M&T Bank Stadium, this will be the Patriots' fourth primetime appearance this season and the Ravens' fifth. The Patriots, holding the league's best record at 11-2, are on a 10-game winning streak and are close to clinching their first playoff berth since 2021 while vying for the AFC's No. 1 seed.
The Ravens enter at 6-7, sitting one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North after a recent loss to them. They remain in contention for the division title and a playoff spot, with paths to victory including a win over the Patriots. The matchup features high-profile quarterbacks: the Patriots' Drake Maye, a front-runner for MVP alongside the Rams' Matthew Stafford, and the Ravens' Lamar Jackson, a two-time league MVP.
Meanwhile, the Bengals-Dolphins game moves to the early afternoon window on CBS. Both teams are fighting to stay alive in the playoff race, with the Dolphins at 6-7 after winning their last four games and the Bengals at 4-9 following a loss to the Bills. The game pits the first two quarterbacks from the 2020 NFL Draft: Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, who has a Super Bowl appearance and two Comeback Player of the Year awards, and Miami's Tua Tagovailoa, the 2023 passing yards leader and prior season's completion percentage leader. Both have dealt with injuries throughout their careers.
This flex underscores the league's emphasis on competitive balance and viewer interest, prioritizing the Patriots' surge over other intriguing AFC contests.