NFL Announces Primetime Move For Patriots’ Week 16 Matchup

New England Patriots fans must adjust their calendars for next weekend.

The NFL revealed a scheduling change for New England’s Week 16 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. As the Patriots shared Monday, they will now play on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”

The Patriots and Ravens both bumped division rivals from the primetime game. Instead of playing Sunday night, the Miami Dolphins will face the Cincinnati Bengals at 1 p.m. ET.

The move reflects how far New England has come in Mike Vrabel’s first season as head coach. Following consecutive four-win campaigns, the Patriots are 11-2 with a 10-game winning streak and the AFC’s best point differential (+110).

New England can clinch a playoff spot before going to MT&T Stadium next Sunday night. The Patriots would capture the AFC East crown for the first time since 2019 with a Week 15 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Even if that’s the case, the Week 16 contest will still matter for New England. The Patriots are currently tied with the Denver Broncos for the AFC’s first-round bye, but the Broncos hold the tiebreaker.

The game may mean even more for the Ravens, who lost Sunday’s huge battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers. John Harbaugh’s team will be desperate to avoid losing more ground in the AFC North standings before the rivals meet again to conclude the regular season.

New England’s Dec. 21 game against Baltimore now starts at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. The Patriots will first host the Bills this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.