After last year’s triple-header, the NFL will once again have games on Christmas this season.
In an announcement today made by the league, the NFL is planning on having a Christmas Day doubleheader this season, and those games will be announced during the schedule release on May 11.
The move may be seen as a surprise, especially with Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year. The league has only played two games since 1949 on a Wednesday, but they were both due to politics (2012) and COVID (2020). Yet, it continues a growing trend of the league looking to expand their outreach further.
Despite the change from previous statements made, the NFL will have plenty of games to choose from for Christmas Day.
Predicting Best Christmas Day Matchups
With the NFL scheduling two Christmas Day games this season, the matchup possibilities are endless. Today, we take a look at the best possible matchups, including revenge games and a Super Bowl rematch.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos
This may seem like a random AFC game, but for the Broncos and new Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, it’s a chance for both sides to show they’re better off.
Wilson struggled in his two seasons in Denver and was benched by head coach Sean Payton late in the year. Now with the Steelers, Wilson would love to show the Broncos that he wasn’t truly at fault for the demise of the franchise recently.
Denver, of course, would love a chance to show their former QB that they’re better off without him.
New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles
This NFC East rivalry was already on Christmas Day last year, but having it for another season would make sense.
First off, the Giants-Eagles rivalry has taken on new meaning now that Philadelphia has acquired Saquon Barkley. The former second-overall pick by the Giants in 2018 signed a three-year deal in free agency with Philadelphia and has left thousands of New Yorkers angry by the move. Getting revenge on the team that has had their number wouldn’t hurt, either.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers
It’s safe to assume that a rematch of Super Bowl 58 will NOT be played on a Wednesday, but will be ticketed as a Sunday night battle. But that doesn’t mean the NFL may not want more of a heavyweight showdown on a holiday that has drawn big ratings for them in the past.
Last year’s Super Bowl brought the most views to the league than any other game before. It could be the driving force to allowing them to have a rematch go on during Christmas Day.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers
How about a family affair on one of the most family-centric holidays of the season? Newly hired head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, Jim Harbaugh, is slated to play older brother John this season.
While the Ravens and Chargers are two teams that could see each other on prime time, this is the type of game that makes a ton of sense to put on Christmas with two games being slates for the season.
Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders
Many people expect Caleb Williams to be the first quarterback taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. Some may gloss over the fact that this particular game will have the quarterbacks taken first and second overall, though.
Whether it’s Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, or even J.J. McCarthy, having a much improved Bears team take on a surprising Washington Commanders unit should be a fun sight to behold.
Washington and Chicago both may have struggled in 2023, but the improvements made during the offseason should make them competitive.
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