NFL and Christmas Day

[Halas Hall]

Do I have this all wrong? I thought the NFL only (rarely) played on Christmas Day and were loathe to encroach upon the day? It was the Blue-Grey college all star game in Alabama and the Hula Bowl in Honolulu. Now the NFL is playing on Christmas Day on a Wednesday no less.

They just said the heck with it?

Thanks.
Nick

[Citizen]

That's pretty much it. The league's thirst for ratings/$$$ overrode its ersatz reverence about the holiday a generation ago.

[JWL]

This year really was gross. Special Saturday games for the teams playing on Christmas. Those games were not played with the normal rest time. Then four games after playing those games, they had to play games on Wednesday. Those teams will then have extra rest when they play in the final regular season week.

[Brian wolf]

This year really was gross. Special Saturday games for the teams playing on Christmas. Those games were not played with the normal rest time. Then four games after playing those games, they had to play games on Wednesday. Those teams will then have extra rest when they play in the final regular season week.

Luckily, it didnt hurt the Chiefs or Ravens, especially since the Ravens had the last of the bye weeks ... they are rolling but it hurt the Steelers, who need to regroup fast. Seriously, dont be surprised if Derrick Henry tries to go for 2000 yards rushing himself against the Browns. He needs 217 yards but I doubt Harbaugh will let him keep playing, if they build a big lead.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

For perspective, the 1960 Eagles Packers NFL Championship Game was played on Monday, Dec. 26, 1960 because Christmas fell on Sunday that year.

[SixtiesFan]

That's pretty much it. The league's thirst for ratings/$$$ overrode its ersatz reverence about the holiday a generation ago.

As I have written previously on this Forum, businessmen and politicians will make any decision or not make a decision on whether it will make more money. Even a small amount of money.

This means having games on Christmas Day, more teams in playoffs, more regular season games, etc.

[Bob Gill]

For perspective, the 1960 Eagles Packers NFL Championship Game was played on Monday, Dec. 26, 1960 because Christmas fell on Sunday that year.

That was still the policy at least as late as 1977, when the first week of the playoffs consisted of two games on Saturday, Dec. 24, and then the other two on Monday, the 26th.

[Crazy Packers Fan]

The longest game in NFL history came on Christmas Day in 1971, Dolphins/Chiefs. So, it's been around for a while. On Christmas Day 1995, Emmitt Smith got his record-breaking 25th touchdown against Arizona to clinch the #1 seed on the way to a Super Bowl victory. And in 2011, Aaron Rodgers set a Packers record with his 45th touchdown pass (and may have broken Tom Brady's record had he not sat Week 17).

Five years from now, Christmas Day will be more associated with the NFL than the NBA.

[RichardBak]

It's just a matter of time before the NFL will be a playing a Christmas Eve game overseas...in Bethlehem.