• Loading stock data...
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Fox Analyst and Media Entrepreneur Greg Olsen to Speak at Tuned In Get your ticket now!

NFL’s 12 Days of Christmas: Stretch Includes 9 Different Days of Games

The NFL took some extreme measures to facilitate playing on Christmas, which is on Wednesday this year. That’s led to a wild stretch for the league that begins Thursday.

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Think of it as the NFL’s version of the 12 days of Christmas.

When the Broncos and Chargers face off Thursday night, they’ll not only be kicking off Week 16 of the regular season but also an unprecedented run of game days for the league.

Over this next 12-day stretch, the NFL will play games on nine different days—a unique circumstance created by the league’s tricky schedule maneuvering to facilitate two Christmas Day matchups, despite the holiday falling on Wednesday this year.

In addition to regular Sunday afternoon games in Weeks 16 and 17, there will be 13 standalone national TV broadcasts featuring 20 of the NFL’s 32 teams at least once, and two teams twice:

  • Thursday: Broncos-Chargers (Amazon)
  • Saturday: Texans-Chiefs (NBC), Steelers-Ravens (Fox)
  • Sunday: Buccaneers-Cowboys (NBC)
  • Monday: Saints-Packers (ABC/ESPN)
  • Christmas Day: Chiefs-Steelers, Ravens-Texans (Netflix)
  • Dec. 26: Seahawks-Bears (Amazon)
  • Dec. 28: Chargers-Patriots, Broncos-Bengals, Cardinals-Rams (NFL Network)
  • Dec. 29: Falcons-Commanders (NBC)
  • Dec. 30: Lions-49ers (ABC/ESPN)

Not featured among those 20 teams are the Bills (11–3) and Eagles (12–2). But Buffalo will be featured in the 4:25 p.m. ET national window of games on CBS on Sunday, and Philadelphia in Fox’s late afternoon slot on Dec. 29.

Candy Canes and Chaos 

As part of the scheduling oddity, the Chiefs, Ravens, Steelers, and Texans have begun the dreaded three games in 11 days, which Kansas City star quarterback Patrick Mahomes bemoaned last week before injuring his ankle on Sunday against the Browns

On Wednesday, the NFL announced those four teams will wear a festive, holiday-inspired uniform patch (warning: there are candy canes involved) for their games on Saturday, and then four days later, Christmas. The league is dubbing the quartet of games the “NFL Holiday Remix.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ohio State–Texas Showdown Was Most-Watched Week 1 CFB Game Ever

Fox drew 16.62 million viewers on Saturday afternoon.
Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; TCU Horned Frogs tight end DJ Rogers (0) catches a touchdown pass as North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Kaleb Cost (21) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium.

Polymarket Moves Closer to Reentering the U.S.

There’s yet more prediction markets momentum as the NFL season kicks off.

Frontloaded NFL Schedule Makes TV Ratings Surge Very Likely

The season’s first month is filled with high-profile national games.
Oct 15, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of the Fox Sports Southwest logo during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Rockets 123-104.

Fox, Hairstylist Settle Bombshell Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Skip Bayless, Charlie Dixon, and Joy Taylor all denied claims of wrongdoing.

Featured Today

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
August 30, 2025

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.

Scheffler, McIlroy, but No LIV at Trump Jupiter Made-for-TV Showcase

The eight-player team showcase will take place Dec. 17 in primetime.
September 3, 2025

Barcelona, AC Milan Abroad? Fan Groups Reject Travel Plans

Supporter groups warn of a “Pandora’s box” if overseas games happen.
Caitlin Clark
September 3, 2025

Podcast Deletes Episode With Big3 Announcer’s Claim of $15M Caitlin Clark Offer

Clark’s WNBA contract was less than $80,000 in her first season.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
September 3, 2025

Roger Goodell: NFL’s Next Frontier Is More Games, More Countries

The commissioner has pushed for an 18-game season since last spring.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, and singer-songwriter Taylor Swift appear at the Kansas City Classic season opening game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Nebraska Cornhuskers, Aug. 28, 2025, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. This is the first time the couple have appeared in the public since their engagement.
September 3, 2025

Roger Goodell Says Taylor Swift a ‘Maybe’ for Super Bowl LX

Halftime show announcements have recently been made in September.
Fever
September 3, 2025

Fever at Risk of Missing WNBA Playoffs Ahead of Wild Final Week

Four teams are fighting for three spots.
September 2, 2025

NFL’s 16-Game International Slate of Games Nears Reality

The league will play a record seven games outside the U.S. this season.