NFL’s Christmas Day Slate Is Looking More Like Coal Than Gold
The NFL has worked hard to turn Christmas into another marquee moment on its calendar - right up there with Thanksgiving and Super Bowl Sunday. But this year’s holiday tripleheader? Let’s just say it’s shaping up to be more “silent night” than “gridiron delight.”
With just over a week to go until the December 25th slate kicks off, the reality is setting in: not every Christmas gift is a winner, and this year’s NFL lineup might be one of those you quietly return on December 26.
Game 1: Cowboys at Commanders - A Cold Start
The day begins with the Cowboys heading to Washington to take on the Commanders, a matchup that feels more like a formality than a feature. Both teams are out of the playoff picture, and both are limping toward the finish line. The Commanders’ season has unraveled, and Dallas - once again falling short of expectations - looks more like a cautionary tale than a contender.
This one has all the makings of a game where the most exciting thing might be the halftime highlights from years past. There’s always some pride on the line in division games, but in terms of stakes, this opener is running on empty.
Game 2: Lions at Vikings - A Glimmer of Relevance
Next up, the Lions travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings. Now this one at least has a little juice.
Detroit is still clinging to playoff hopes, trying to fight their way into the postseason picture. That alone gives the game some meaning.
But the Vikings? They were officially eliminated after the Bears beat the Browns, and at 6-8, they’re playing for pride and momentum heading into the offseason.
Minnesota has won two straight, so they’re not folding - but with no playoff path left, it’s hard to imagine this one turning into a classic. Still, for Detroit, every snap counts, and the urgency on their sideline might inject some life into the middle game of the day.
Game 3: Broncos at Chiefs - Not Exactly Prime Time
The nightcap features the Broncos visiting the Chiefs in what was once billed as a potential AFC West showdown. Instead, it’s a matchup between a Denver team already out of the race and a Kansas City squad that’s also been eliminated - a rare sentence to write in recent years.
To make matters murkier, Gardner Minshew is expected to start at quarterback for the Chiefs. That’s not exactly the holiday headliner Kansas City fans were hoping for. And after years of Patrick Mahomes lighting up primetime, it’s understandable if the local crowd opts to stay home and enjoy dessert instead of bundling up for Arrowhead.
Sure, there’s a certain appeal for viewers who’ve grown tired of the Chiefs’ dominance. Watching them struggle might offer a bit of holiday schadenfreude. But for most fans - especially those without a rooting interest - this one doesn’t scream “must-see TV,” even if it’s exclusive to Prime Video.
Why the NFL Missed the Mark
So how did we get here? A big part of the issue is the calendar.
With Labor Day falling on September 1 this year, the NFL season kicked off as early as it ever does. That pushed Christmas into Week 17 - a critical juncture in the playoff race, but also a point where several teams are already eliminated.
The league tries to forecast compelling matchups when it builds the schedule in May, but predicting which teams will still be relevant in late December is a tough game in itself. This year’s Christmas slate is a reminder that even the NFL, with all its planning and analytics, can’t always call its shot months in advance.
What Comes Next?
Don’t be surprised if the league looks to add some flexibility to future Christmas schedules. We’ve already seen the NFL implement late-season flex scheduling for Saturdays, where a handful of games are tagged as potential primetime candidates. That same approach could work for Christmas - especially if the league wants to avoid another year of holiday duds.
The truth is, most teams are still in the hunt by Thanksgiving. But by Christmas?
The playoff picture starts to narrow fast. If the NFL wants to keep the holiday slate meaningful - and keep fans tuning in between gift exchanges and family dinners - it may need to rethink how it picks these games.
Because while football on Christmas is a great idea in theory, this year’s lineup feels more like a stocking stuffer than a showstopper.