Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers flexed to Sunday Night Football for Week 17

The Detroit Lions will have a chance to clinch their first division title in 23 years on a national stage. The league announced Sunday that their Week 17 matchup against the Green Bay Packers has been flexed to the Sunday Night slot at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Though both teams can clinch a playoff spot before then, the NFC North is guaranteed to be on the line when the two teams take the field on Sunday night.

This moves benefits the Lions in a few ways. First, it will create a playoff environment for Ford Field, giving Detroit an extra home-field advantage boost. Additionally, it gives the Lions players an extra seven hours of much needed rest. The Packers already have the advantage of two extra days, so anything extra the Lions can get will be helpful.

In addition to flexing the Lions game to Sunday night, the league moved Washington-New York to the 4:25 p.m. time slot. This is important because if the Lions don't clinch a playoff spot by beating the Cowboys, they can get in with a Washington loss. But they won't know if they have that help until an hour before kickoff.

Detroit has yet to play a prime time game this season, but they'll end the regular season in the national spotlight in two consecutive games.