Despite the Dallas Cowboys not making the playoffs this season, they remain one of the most-watched teams in the NFL, regularly drawing massive television audiences. This is precisely why the league’s decision on Monday to make a significant change to their upcoming schedule has caught many fans by surprise.

The NFL announced that this Sunday’s highly anticipated Week 17 showdown between the Cowboys and the Eagles would be moved from its coveted 4:25 p.m. ET time slot to an earlier 1 p.m. ET start. This is a surprising move, considering the intense rivalry between these two NFC East teams and the high viewership the Cowboys typically bring. It’s a game that many fans expected to dominate the later time slot, especially given the high stakes involved.

Taking the place of the Cowboys-Eagles game in the 4:25 p.m. slot is an NFC North clash between the 13-2 Minnesota Vikings and the 10-4 Green Bay Packers (who still have to face off against the Saints on Monday). On paper, the Vikings-Packers matchup certainly has significant playoff implications and is critical for both teams as they look to secure their positions in the postseason. The Vikings are on track for a potential top seed, while the Packers are fighting for their playoff lives.

From a pure football standpoint, it’s clear why the NFL would want to highlight this NFC North rivalry in the more desirable time slot. The Vikings’ dominance and the Packers’ playoff hopes make this game a must-watch for many fans around the league. However, despite the compelling storylines surrounding the Vikings-Packers matchup, it’s still a bit surprising that the NFL would move the Cowboys-Eagles game, especially given the enormous viewership it would attract.

The game that’s taking the spot of that NFC East heated rivalry? A NFC North showdown between the 13-2 Vikings and the 10-4 Packers (who play the Saints on Monday).

By just looking at records and playoff implications, it makes complete sense that Vikings-Packers would be the big 4:25 p.m. game. It’s just wild to see the league kicking the huge Cowboys audience away.

This schedule change signals the NFL’s focus on playoff ramifications and high-stakes matchups, but it also leaves many wondering why such a significant change was made, particularly when the Cowboys have historically been a ratings juggernaut. Fans of America’s Team may be disappointed, but they will still have plenty to look forward to as the Cowboys-Eagles rivalry unfolds at a slightly earlier time.