Cowboys get bumped for Giants-Browns

Time was when the Cowboys were scheduled to play a prime-time game, they always played at that time. Flexing out the ratings-gold Cowboys to an earlier television slot? No way.

Yes way.

The Giants-Browns game on Dec. 20 in Week 15, originally scheduled for 1 p.m. at MetLife Stadium, has been flexed into the 8:20 p.m. slot on NBC. That knocks the Cowboys-49ers game, originally scheduled for that night slot, to a 1 p.m. kickoff.

This reveals the state of the Giants and Cowboys franchises in 2020. Joe Judge’s Giants are 5-7, riding a four-game winning streak and currently hold the tiebreaker lead with Washington for first place in the NFC East. Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys are 3-9 and in last place in the division. This is the first time the Cowboys have been flexed out of “Sunday Night Football’’ since its inception in 2006.

What this means is the Giants are becoming must-see TV.

“It means nothing,’’ safety Logan Ryan said Wednesday, before going into a detailed explanation of how dangerous the Cardinals offense is. The Giants face Arizona on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

“I think just the focus has to always be on what we’re doing right now and the process of getting ready for the Cardinals,’’ head coach Joe Judge said. “The fact that the game was flexed, to be completely transparent and honest with you, we’ll play whenever.

“In terms of the pressure and the noise outside, you just have to keep your focus on what you’re doing immediately.’’

The Browns (9-3) are having a sensational season, currently on a four-game winning streak and behind only the Steelers (11-1) in the AFC North. Alas, the Giants-Browns game will not include receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who is out for the season following knee surgery.