As expected, the NFL and NBC pulled the plug on the Chargers-Bucs Sunday night matchup scheduled for Dec. 21.

The league just announced that the NBC Sunday night telecast that evening will feature the Giants-Panthers instead. That pushes the Bucs game back to 1 p.m. on CBS.

The news isn't the least bit surprising given Monday night's result and the fact the Panthers are in position to contest the Giants for the NFC's top playoff seeding. The Super Bowl champion Giants will be making their fourth appearance on NBC, which is the maximum allowed. Meanwhile, the Bucs had a poor showing in their only Monday Night Football appearance of the season.

NBC's Sunday night games give teams wide exposure, ranking among television's highest-rated prime time programs.

The NFL's flex scheduling policies requires a decision on moving games be made no less than 12 days prior. This is the second consecutive season the Bucs will have a game time changed under flex scheduling. Last season the Dec. 23 contest at San Francisco was moved from a Sunday night game to a 4 p.m. start.