Patriots-Broncos rematch could be playoff preview
The New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions are playing to lock up division championships, while the Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs are close to wrapping up spots in the postseason.
The Patriots-Broncos rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game could be a preview of yet another January meeting between the teams.
With rookie sensations Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott leading the way to an 11-2 record, the Cowboys have been involved in five of the top six most-watched NFL games this year, according to Sports Media Watch.
The Cowboys are lined up to become the first NFL team to play four consecutive night games, with three in a row on NBC.
Last Sunday night’s game against the division rival Giants attracted 26.5 million viewers, according to NBC Sports, making it the most-watched Week 14 prime-time game in 27 years.
Dallas’ Thanksgiving Day matchup against Washington drew a whopping 35.1 million viewers, the most-watched regular-season game in Fox Sports history and the most-watched regular-season game since Dallas and Kansas City drew 35.7 million on Thanksgiving Day in 1995.
Kansas City placed linebacker Derrick Johnson on injured reserve after he ruptured his Achilles tendon against Oakland on Dec. 8, and elevated defensive lineman David King from the practice squad.