Subsequent week kicks off one of many … let’s say, most fascinating weeks of the NFL calendar yr.
The league will launch the schedule for the upcoming season.
I’ll concede that if I’ve a singular curmudgeonly, “get off my garden” opinion, it’s that that is probably the most pointless occasion on the NFL calendar. We all know every group’s schedule as a result of league’s scheduling system, all we study is when the video games will probably be held.
Nevertheless, in a quest to actually stay by the creed “don’t yuck somebody’s yum,” I’ve grown to at the very least grudgingly settle for this newest NFL-forced league vacation. The schedule launch movies are extra inventive every year, and for followers who construct their fall touring schedule round their group’s video games, this does matter.
In the event you can’t beat them, be a part of them, I suppose.
As we look forward to the schedule launch, listed below are the video games we want to see on Christmas Day. As soon as once more, the league is holding three video games on the vacation, with two airing on Netflix and the third on Amazon Prime.
This Christmas may also make historical past, as it’s going to mark the primary time the league has held video games on the vacation when it falls on a Thursday.
Listed here are our strategies:
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Buffalo Payments, 1:00 p.m. ET
What higher technique to kick off the vacation triple-header than a rematch of the AFC Championship Sport?
The Payments and the Chiefs have grown into one of many league’s finest rivalries, spurred largely by the unbelievable “13 seconds” recreation a number of seasons in the past. You even have two of the league’s premier skills on the quarterback place in Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
As well as, the Chiefs have reportedly informed the league they want to be a everlasting fixture on Christmas Day, much like how the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have turn into related to Thanksgiving Day. Whereas NFL vice chairman of broadcast planning and scheduling Mike North brushed that concept apart — noting that it took many years for the Lions and the Cowboys to turn into everlasting fixtures on Thanksgiving Day — it at the very least makes excellent sense for the Chiefs to play on Christmas for the third consecutive season.
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:30 p.m. ET
If nothing else, the vacations are about spending time with family members.
What higher technique to acknowledge that than a reunion between Jim Harbaugh and J.J. McCarthy?
With Sam Darnold off to the Pacific Northwest, McCarthy is in line to take over because the beginning quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. After being drafted within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy sat out his rookie season with a knee damage. Now, he anticipated to take over beneath heart for Kevin O’Connell.
Placing him up towards the Chargers — and a coach he helped ship a Nationwide Championship for at Michigan — is a beautiful vacation deal with.
Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:00 p.m. ET
If we’re having an AFC Championship Sport rematch, why not an NFC Championship Sport rematch to cap off the tripleheader?
Final yr, the Washington Commanders surprised everybody across the league with a magical journey to the NFC Championship Sport, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. His success put the Commanders in place to construct round him this offseason and Washington has finished precisely that, including gifted gamers corresponding to Deebo Samuel, Laremy Tunsil, Deatrich Sensible, Javon Kinlaw, and Jonathan Jones in free company, after which incoming rookies corresponding to Josh Conerly Jr., Trey Amoe, and Jalyin Lane.
This improved Commanders roster ought to get a shot at a rematch towards the Eagles in prime time on Christmas evening.