NFL

Which NFL Teams Are Playing on Christmas Day 2022?

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By
Jack Dougherty
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Jack Dougherty Sports Editor

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies. When Jack isn't writing about sports, he's watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He's also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.  

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Published21 Dec 2022

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Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady embrace after a game.

The NFL has owned Thanksgiving for decades, but the league has only dabbled in Christmas Day games over the years. There have been just 24 NFL games played on Dec. 25 since 1971. However, Commissioner Roger Goodell is starting to put a larger emphasis on Christmas Day games. This year will be the third straight season with at least one Christmas game on the schedule, and it will mark the first time in league history three NFL games will be played on the jolly day.

So, which teams are playing on NFL Christmas Day 2022?

Which teams play on NFL Christmas Day 2022?

Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady embrace after a game.
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers talks with Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a game | Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

There will be three NFL games played on Christmas Day this year for the first time in league history. That may sound like heaven, but the matchups are… not the best.

First, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will attempt to keep their faint playoff hopes alive against Tua Tagovailoa the Miami Dolphins. The Packers must win on Christmas Day to stay alive in the NFC playoff race, while the Dolphins will be looking to snap a three-game skid.

The afternoon game will feature the 4-10 Los Angeles Rams and the 4-10 Denver Broncos. Goodell probably thought he had a banger with this one before the season, but this matchup is just straight-up depressing now.

The nightcap isn’t much better, either. Tom Brady and the sinking Tampa Bay Buccaneers will welcome a 4-10 Arizona Cardinals team down to its third-string quarterback.

The NFL can’t be thrilled with how this Christmas Day slate turned out, but it will still crush the NBA’s ratings because of postseason implications and the fantasy football playoffs.

Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers – 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Los Angeles Rams vs. Denver Broncos – 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Arizona Cardinals vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

Which NFL team has played the most Christmas Day games?

NFL games on Dec. 25 date back to the 1971 playoffs. Since then, the Dallas Cowboys have played the most Christmas Day games in the league (five), going 2-3 in those contests. The Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans are tied for the second-most Christmas Day games played with four.

There are six NFL teams that are undefeated on Christmas, but the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers are the only teams with a 2-0 record.