While the NFL has long made playing on Thanksgiving a tradition, playing on Christmas wasn’t always on the league’s mind. For a long stretch of the NFL’s history, the season was already wrapped up by late December. In other instances, when the league expanded the NFL schedule, the NFL used to go to great lengths to avoid playing on Christmas.
The NFL first played playoff games on Christmas in 1971, but no regular-season games were played on the holiday until 1989. This year’s Week 16 NFL matchups will feature a tripleheader of games on the holiday. Most of the rest of the schedule that week will be played on Saturday.
NFL Games of the Week
Thursday, Dec. 21
Saturday, Dec. 23
Sunday, Dec.24
Monday, Dec. 25
Here’s a look at some interesting facts about NFL Week 16 matchups.
Giants vs Eagles: The Battle for the Big Apple
The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles are set to face off in an NFC East divisional matchup game on Saturday. This is a rivalry that dates back to 1933, and it is one of the most heated in all of sports. The Giants and Eagles have met 182 times, with the Eagles holding a 93-88-2 edge in the series.
This is a rivalry game, and anything can happen. The Giants are the underdogs, but they have the talent and the momentum to pull off the upset. The Eagles are the favorites, but they can’t afford to overlook the Giants. This is a game that could go either way, and it’s sure to be a close one.
The Giants and Eagles are two of the most storied franchises in the NFL, and this is a rivalry that is sure to continue for years to come. This game is a must-watch for any NFL fan.
Other important matchups
- Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers: The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers meet in Week 11 of the 2023 NFL season. The Bengals are favored to win, but the Steelers have won the last two meetings between the two teams. The game is expected to be close, and it could come down to which team can control the clock and make fewer mistakes.
- Baltimore Ravens vs San Francisco 49ers: The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers meet in Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season. The Ravens are underdogs, but they have a chance to win if they can get their offense going. The 49ers are favored, but they will need to play a complete game in order to avoid a letdown.
- Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs: The Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs meet in Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season. The Chiefs are favored to win, but the Raiders have a chance to pull off the upset if they can slow down the Chiefs’ high-powered offense.