The Patriots have only one Thursday night football game on the schedule this season, but that might now be at risk. 

On Monday, NFL owners approved a change to the league's flex scheduling procedure, which will allow the NFL to shift games into and out of primetime during Weeks 13-17. This will require the league to give participating teams at least 28 days of advanced notice, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. 

"Flexing for Thursday Night Football just passed, 24-8, per source," Schefter tweeted. "Giants, Jets, Packers, Bears, Raiders, Detroit, Bengals, Pittsburgh voted against it – to no avail."

Schefter's report shows that New England did vote in favor of the rule change.

The Patriots are scheduled to play an away contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, December 7. 

During the season, only two Thursday flexes will be allowed and a team is not allowed to play on Thursday night more than twice. 

Here is the full release from the NFL: 

“Whereas, in 2023 Resolution JC-2 (as Amended) the membership approved a modified scheduling policy for short weeks in connection with the Thursday Night Football package; and

“Whereas, given that Thursday Night Football is the only primetime package without flexible scheduling, the membership also wishes to apply flexible scheduling and/or “TBD” scheduling for Thursday Night Football on a trial basis; Be it

“Resolved, that flexible scheduling is hereby expanded to Thursdays such that clubs may be required to switch Sunday afternoon regular season games, in Weeks 13-17, to approximately 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday (and vice-versa) upon at least twenty-eight (28) days’ notice from the League Office; and Be it

“Further Resolved, that the League’s late season “TBD” scheduling mechanism is hereby expanded to allow the League Office to designate games originally identified as “TBD” games to be played at approximately 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday (in addition to Saturday, Sunday or Monday) in place of the originally scheduled Thursday night game (which shall be played on Sunday); and Be it

“Further Resolved, that any club appearance on Thursday Night Football as a result of flexing or “TBD” scheduling will count toward the existing seven (7) appearance limit (as described in Section 4 of Exhibit A of 2021 Resolution M-1); and Be it

“Further Resolved, that no club will be required by virtue of flexible scheduling to switch from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night on more than one (1) occasion, or to play more than two (2) games on Thursday night in total, in any season; and Be it

“Further Resolved, that the League Office will apply flexible scheduling to Thursday Night Football no more than two (2) times in any season; and Be it

“Further Resolved, that this Resolution will be in effect for the 2023 season only, unless flexible scheduling is not applied for Thursday Night Football during the 2023 regular season, in which case this Resolution shall remain in effect for the 2024 season.”

Featured image via Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports