NFL analyst calls “B.S.” on Christmas games being limited to just Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans
The Kansas City Chiefs-Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans are the two games set for Christmas Day 2024, but there might be another match yet to be announced. At least, that is what NFL analyst Mike Florio claimed on Friday's edition of "Pro Football Talk."
"Christmas Day, Chiefs-Steelers followed by Ravens-Texans on Netflix. Now, they told us a year ago they weren't going to play Christmas games when it landed on a Wednesday, we got two. Yesterday, during that conference call, they told us there's gonna be two games played on Christmas next year, which I guess means there's gonna be four."
Florio called "BS" on the situation for both 2024 and 2025:
"I wrote a check last year when they said they weren't gonna play on Christmas when it lands on a Wednesday. I called B.S. on it then. This year, I'm calling B.S. on it's only going to be two games, by next year it's gonna be the same thing you see on the fourth Thursday in November, because Christmas lands on a Thursday in 2025.
"Guarantee, they say it's two now, Netflix in the afternoon, Amazon at night, there's gonna be three by the time we are having this conversation a year from now."
The insinuation is that the league will flex a game into the Christmas window. The league still has six months before they need to make a final call to add a game to the Christmas slate. Of course, that raises the question of the game that could be moved.
This year, Christmas falls on a Wednesday. As such, the most likely move for the NFL would be to move a Sunday game up to Wednesday. As for which game could be moved, it will entirely depend on the records of almost every team in the NFL.
What is the Christmas Week 17 schedule in addition to Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans?
The Chiefs' battle against the Steelers and Ravens-Texans games are the headlining matchups of the week and the most talked-about showdowns. However, many more games will be played in Week 17.
Here's a look at the primetime schedule for the week, including a Thursday Night showdown a day after the two-game Christmas slate, starting with the battle between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chiefs.
- Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers, Wednesday, December 25th at 1:00 PM EST on Netflix
- Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans, Wednesday, December 25th at 4:30 PM EST on Netflix
- Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears on Thursday, December 26th at 8:15 PM EST on Prime Video
- Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 29th at 8:20 PM EST on NBC
- Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers on Monday, December 30th at 8:15 PM EST on ESPN
Six more games have dates and times for the weekend with all taking place on Sunday, starting with the New York Jets battle with the Buffalo Bills.
- New York Jets at Buffalo Bills at 1:00 PM EST on CBS
- Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars at 1:00 PM EST on CBS
- Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings at 1:00 PM EST on FOX
- Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints at 1:00 PM EST on FOX
- Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1:00 PM EST on CBS
- Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles at 4:25 PM EST on FOX
There are four games without a date, time, or channel announced yet. If a game were to be moved to Christmas, the following games seemingly are lined up as the biggest candidates, starting with the Arizona Cardinals' game against the Los Angeles Rams:
- Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
- Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots
- Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants
- Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders