NFL Week 17: Vikings-Packers matchup shifted to late window, Eagles-Cowboys to be played earlier

Way back before Week 1, not many thought the Week 17 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers would have so much juice that it would push another big NFL rivalry game to an earlier time.

But that is what has happened. The NFL announced on Monday The Vikings-Packers showdown turns to the late window of Sunday’s NFL games. It will be played at 4:30 PM ET instead of 1:00 PM ET, giving more people a chance to see a contest between two rivals that could impact the upcoming playoffs.

When one game is flexed in, another game must be flexed out. The Week 17 game flipping out to the early window is the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys. While it’s typically a bankable matchup between two bitter division rivals that traditionally gets a lot of eyeballs, it’s less of a contest at this point in the season.

The Cowboys have won four of their last five games but have been eliminated from the playoffs. Interest in this game is based on whether the resurgent Cowboys can top a beat-up Eagles team that not only lost its Week 16 game against the Washington Commanders, but also started QB Jalen Hurts with an early concussion.

Ultimately, Cowboys-Eagles has few playoff implications, while Vikings-Packers has the Vikings potentially vying for the No. 1 seed. 1, and the Packers – if they defeat the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football and therefore clinch a playoff spot – are fighting for better playoff seeding. And if the Packers lose to the Saints to close out Week 16, they will contend for a playoff appearance against the Vikings.