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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting a third prime time game this season: their week 15 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys has been flexed to Sunday Night Football, the NFL announced today. NBC will televise the December 18 game, which will be played in Dallas, nationally at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Originally, the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers had been planned at that time. That game has been moved to 1:00 p.m. ET.
With the Bucs at 7-5 and the Cowboys 11-1, playoff implications abound for this game. Tampa Bay is in the hunt for a wild card spot or even division title, which would mean its first playoff appearance since the 2007 season, while the Cowboys are looking to lock up the number one seed in the NFC.
This is the first time since 2008 that the Bucs will play on a Sunday night during the regular season. I kid you not: that’s how long NBC has snubbed them for this spot.