Fox, NBC vie for piece of Cowboys-Redskins showdown

Like Homer Simpson protecting the last case of Duff on earth, Fox is fighting hard to hold on to its potential Week 17 gold mine.

According to The Dallas Morning News, Fox and NBC are "locked in intense lobbying" to secure the rights to Week 17's matchup between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys, a game that could decide the NFC East title.

Fox -- which has aired NFC games since 1994 -- currently has the matchup on their schedule for next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. If the game ends up deciding the NFC East, the NFL could flex it to the Sunday night slot on NBC.

That's what happened last December, when a division-deciding New York Giants-Cowboys tilt slid over to Al and Cris, much to Fox's dismay.

If the Cowboys and Redskins are in a win-or-go-home scenario, it will be a ratings juggernaut for whoever airs it. As a football fan -- and a fan of NBC's top-rate production -- we're pulling for the flex. Sorry, Homer.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.