The NFL has announced that they’re keeping the Week 17 Minnesota Vikings game against the Green Bay Packers in primetime, opting not to flex the game out for a more enticing option. This should come as no surprise, as the Vikings are still in the thick of both the NFC playoff picture, and the hunt for the NFC North title.
The NFL will keep the Vikings and Packers on Sunday night on NBC next week. No changes for the New Year's Eve game that was scheduled for Sunday night back in April.
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) December 21, 2023
The Packers could play a spoiler role in the Vikings’ quest for the NFC North crown, which makes this game an intriguing matchup that should draw well for the NFL in that slot.
The NFL started flex scheduling for Sunday Night Football games back in 2006 and expanded their flex scheduling efforts this season to include both Thursday Night and Monday Night Football games to try and have the most intriguing — and ratings-worthy — games in their featured primetime slots.
Flex scheduling for Sunday Night Football starts in Week 5, with a total of two games allowed to be flexed between weeks 5 and 10. Starting Week 11, the league has full discretion to flex any matchup any number of weeks.
Keeping the Vikings in primetime makes sense, as the Vikings control their own destiny in the NFC North, but will need to win out in order to take the division title. Minnesota is currently two games back of the Detroit Lions, with two games against them in the final three. The Packers will have a chance to play the spoiler in those efforts, and could see themselves in the NFC playoff picture as well with a win.
As it stands today, the Packers are currently sitting in the 11th spot in the NFC, but are only a game behind the Vikings in the NFC North standings. With a loss already on their record against Minnesota and a season split of the series against Detroit, they would need some help.
That intrigue, along with the Vikings/Packers rivalry being one of the biggest in the sport should be more than enough to be a ratings draw for the league.
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