NFL plans Saturday tripleheader for Week 17, puts Commanders and Falcons in ‘SNF’

NFL plans Saturday tripleheader for Week 17, puts Commanders and Falcons in ‘SNF’

The NFL has officially scheduled its Saturday tripleheader for Week 17 while also postponing its Sunday Night Football matchup to Christmas.

Saturday’s schedule on December 28th begins at 1:00 p.m. ET with the Los Angeles Chargers at the New England Patriots, followed by the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. at the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals’ game at the Los Angeles Rams at 8 p.m

All three games will be broadcast on NFL Network and available on NFL+, the league’s streaming service.

The NFL should select three games from five possible matchups. One of the options – the Atlanta Falcons at the Washington Commanders – will move to “Sunday Night Football” on December 29, replacing the Miami Dolphins at the Cleveland Browns. The other game – the Indianapolis Colts vs. the New York Giants – will be played Sunday at 1 p.m.

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The overhaul could have a significant impact on the playoff picture.

The Broncos (9-5) are in good shape to end their eight-year playoff drought as they sit in sixth place in the AFC. But Thursday’s game against the Chargers (8-6) could prove crucial in determining the wild card pecking order, and Denver faces a resilient Bengals team (6-8) that has at least 34 points in four of its last games achieved six weeks.

The Rams (8-6) secured the NFC West lead this weekend thanks to a tiebreaker against the Seattle Seahawks, but will still need to finish strong given the state of the wild card race and the rematch with the Seahawks in Week 18. The Cardinals need slips from both teams to make up ground in the division.

The Commanders (9-5) are clinging to the final NFC wild card spot, while the best hope for the Falcons (7-7) is probably to compete with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) for the allotted NFC South Atlanta has already beaten the Bucs this season, a crucial tiebreaker if the clubs end up at an impasse.

NFL Week 17 Schedule

Wednesday December 25th

Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET, Netflix

Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix

Thursday, December 26th

Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video

Saturday December 28th

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals, 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network

Sunday, December 29th

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX

Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Monday, December 30th

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Week 17 schedule: ‘SNF’ game postponed, Saturday tripleheader set

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