Commanders Week 17 game against Falcons flexed to Sunday Night Football
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 15: A Commanders helmet in the bench area during the week 6 NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Commanders on October 15, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Spo
WASHINGTON - The Washington Commanders will now play their Week 17 game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.
The NFL announced the game had been flexed on Tuesday. Washington (9-6) will now play Atlanta (7-7) at 8:20 p.m. on Dec. 29 at Northwest Stadium.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter reports that the NFL is moving the NFC matchup to Sunday Night Football to replace the Miami Dolphins-Cleveland Browns game. Those two AFC teams, both jockeying for a playoff position, will now play at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday.
Following their 20-19 win over the New Orleans Saints Sunday, the Commanders are holding on to the #7 seed in the NFC playoff picture. If they maintain the spot, it will be the team's first postseason berth since 2020.
The Commanders say that according to the New York Times' playoff simulator, a win over the Falcons would put Washington's postseason chances past 99% because of the tiebreaker they would hold.
This week, the Commanders face the Philadelphia Eagles — the best in the NFC East — in a division rivalry. The Falcons, meanwhile, will play the NFC East-worst New York Giants.