The NFL has announced that it will play two games on Christmas Day this year, despite previously stating that it would not play on Christmas when it falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday. However, the league decided not to play on the night before Christmas, December 24.
Despite having the option to play a game on Tuesday night, the NFL opted not to do so. The league has a large and dedicated audience as evidenced by the significant viewership numbers for Christmas Day games in prior years. Last year, a Patriots-Broncos game drew 10.21 million viewers on NFL Network, while a year earlier, Raiders-Steelers averaged 10.94 million viewers on the same network.
The decision not to have a game on December 24 was confirmed by the NFL to PFT. While playing a Wednesday night game was deemed feasible due to logistical challenges, playing on Tuesdays was too difficult for the league to consider. This decision raises questions about why the league chose not to play on Christmas Eve, as there may have been enough potential audience size to justify the effort. If viewership numbers were higher in previous years, the NFL might have found a way to schedule a game on December 24.
Ultimately, the NFL’s decision not to play on Christmas Eve may have been based on factors such as audience size and logistical challenges. However, its ability to play games on Christmas Day when it falls mid-week raises questions about why playing
