The Redskins-Ravens matchup replaces a New England-Seattle game that had been scheduled for broadcast on NBC at 8:15 p.m. EST Dec. 7. But with the Seahawks 2-9, the league put the more attractive game pitting Washington and Baltimore, teams that are 7-4 and in the playoff hunt, on the national broadcast schedule.

The NFL uses what it calls "flexible scheduling" for Weeks 11 through 17 to give NBC a potentially more interesting game while also keeping key games on Fox and CBS.

The league, with the exception of Week 17, must announce the change at least 12 days ahead of the game being played. The change for Week 17 -- on Dec. 28 and the last week of the NFL regular season, can be made six days ahead of game day.