The NFL has a great feature built into its annual schedule.
That is the ability to flex Sunday night games in case a bad matchup is on the docket late in the year.
That was the upcoming case in Week 13 with a scheduled matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
At the start of the year, this looked like a great, late-season NFC West showdown.
Instead, the 49ers are clinging to playoff hopes at 5-5 and the Seahawks are down to 3-7 to all but end their playoff dreams in 2021 even with Russell Wilson back on the field.
The NFL has decided to step in and put a game with true playoff implications in that Sunday night slot.
More schedule changes: The NFL flexed #Chiefs–#Broncos to Sunday night in Week 13, with #Seahawks–#49ers moving to a mid-afternoon slot.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 23, 2021
Out goes the NFC West and in comes an AFC West battle featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos.
A New Primetime Game In Week 13
This change is for the best.
The Chiefs are back to their winning ways and have taken home four consecutive victories.
The NFL can’t resist Patrick Mahomes in primetime. So the Chiefs schedule going forward will have 2 of their 4 remaining AFC West matchups in primetime with SNF and TNF.
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) November 23, 2021
Meanwhile, the Broncos are at 5-5 on the year and right in the mix in the AFC playoff race.
The Chiefs may have the advantage because, among other reasons, they will be coming off a bye week.
The Broncos have to take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 12 in a crucial divisional game.
Yet if the Broncos win, they will head into Sunday night against the Chiefs feeling like the division is theirs to win.
Denver does not get a lot of time in the national spotlight and they will now get a chance to show the nation that they are a real contender in 2021.
That is the case no matter the result this weekend against the Chargers because of how wild the AFC playoff picture is right now.
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