The NFL has updated the Week 17 schedule and the Dallas Cowboys have been impacted. Their home game against the Arizona Cardinals has been moved from an early kickoff to the late afternoon.
Originally scheduled for 12:00 pm CST, the former division foes and ongoing regional rivals will now kick off at 3:25 pm.
With Arizona currently 10-3 and Dallas 9-4 overall, both are frontrunners in their divisions and the conference. This game could wind up having significant implications on the eventual NFC playoff picture, establishing a head-to-head tiebreaker between them.
The change comes as little surprise. Even with they’re not relevant to the postseason, Dallas is an easy ratings magnet for the NFL and its business partners.
While the Cowboys may wrap up their division as early as this weekend, the game against Arizona could still be one they push hard to win. Not only is the number-one seed in the NFC potentially still up for grabs, but both teams would love to avoid the 4th seed and probably having to deal with the Los Angeles Rams in the first round.
Clearly, the NFL is hoping this matchup will deliver given the schedule change.
