Patriots vs. Texans Week 14 Matchup Flexed to 'Sunday Night Football'

The New England Patriots continue to win, and the possibility of Tom Brady’s team finishing with a perfect 16-0 record becomes more likely with every passing week. The NFL apparently wants as many people as possible to watch during the stretch run.

According to Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk, the league announced Sunday that it flexed the Patriots’ Week 14 contest against the Houston Texans to NBC’s Sunday Night Football slot. It was originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

The Week 14 matchup between the two-time defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens was originally scheduled to take place on Sunday Night Football, but the Ravens are a dismal 3-7 and have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league.

Baltimore is set to face the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football this week, and that lackluster prime-time matchup has drawn plenty of jeers. Greg Brinda of ESPN 850 WKNR in Cleveland is not excited:

The Patriots’ pursuit of perfection isn’t the only attractive thing about next week's matchup. Houston has turned its season around with four straight wins and is tied with the Indianapolis Colts atop the AFC South at 6-5. Suddenly, the Texans have legitimate postseason hopes, and the home contest with New England carries plenty of implications.

The game will also feature a clash between Brady and Houston defensive end J.J. Watt, two of the most talented and recognizable players in the league. It's no wonder that the NFL wants to market its superstars in a meaningful showdown late in the season.