The National Football League (NFL) has announced that the highly anticipated matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots will replace the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins as the featured event for Week 16’s “Sunday Night Football.” The Ravens and Patriots will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on December 17, 2023, while the Dolphins and Bengals will now play at 1 p.m. ET on the same day.
This change comes in light of the Bengals’ recent performance. Following their loss to the Buffalo Bills, their playoff aspirations have dwindled significantly. The Bengals now sit three games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North standings and four games behind the Houston Texans for the final wild-card spot, giving them a mere 3 percent chance of making the postseason, according to data from The Athletic’s Playoff Simulator.
In contrast, the Dolphins have turned their season around after a dismal 2-7 start. They currently enjoy a four-game winning streak, bringing their record to 6-7. Despite this resurgence, they remain two games back of the Texans in the wild-card race, with remaining matches against the Steelers, Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Patriots.
The Ravens and Patriots game carries significant implications for both teams. The Patriots are in a fierce competition with the Broncos for the top seed in the AFC, with both teams entering Week 15 boasting an impressive 11-2 record. The Patriots are also led by potential MVP candidate Drake Maye and Coach of the Year contender Mike Vrabel.
For the Ravens, last week’s loss to the Steelers was a setback, knocking them out of the current playoff picture. They remain just one game behind the Steelers, setting the stage for a crucial division showdown in the Week 18 regular-season finale, which could ultimately determine the division winner.
This flexed matchup marks the Patriots’ fourth prime-time game of the season and their second appearance on “Sunday Night Football.” Earlier this season, they secured a victory against the Bills in Buffalo during a Week 5 contest. They also achieved wins against the New York Jets in Week 11 on “Thursday Night Football” and the New York Giants in Week 13 on “Monday Night Football.”
The Ravens will be making their fifth prime-time appearance in the 2023 season. They previously faced the Bills in a thrilling Week 1 game, lost a close contest to the Lions on a Monday night in Week 3, defeated the Dolphins in Week 9 on Thursday night, and fell to the Bengals on Thanksgiving.
With both teams fighting for playoff positions and a chance to solidify their standing in the AFC, the Ravens-Patriots matchup promises to be a significant highlight of the NFL season.
