The NFL games we want to see on Christmas Day

The 2026 NFL schedule will be released this month. While the entire schedule release is fun to scour, a new tradition has emerged — Christmas Day games!

Thank goodness, the NFL is led by greedy pigs. Owning Thanksgiving Day is no longer enough for the league. It wants all the holidays and it has happily stolen Christmas from the NBA.

I’m all for it.

There will be three NFL games on Christmas, a Friday. Here are five matchups we’d love to see fill the day.

Here’s to a Merry NFL Christmas:

Nothing like some legitimate hate to fuel the holidays. The arrival of Ben Johnson as the Bears head coach last year turned up the heat on the oldest rivalry in the league. Johnson starting talking about Packers coach Matt LaFleur shortly after getting the job and the the events of the season further fueled tension. The two teams played three one-score games last season including the playoffs, and the intensity was real. These two teams can’t stand each other. Let’s get this Christmas Day matchup in a game that should have big playoffs implications in what should be a weather game no matter where its played. I couldn’t wait for this game to land under the tree.

This is another incredible divisional matchup between upper-level teams. Let’s face it; these were the two best teams in the playoffs last year. Their NFC championship game was much more competitive than the game between the Seahawks and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. They played three games that were decided by a total of seven points last season, which is absolutely wild. This would be another intense matchup that could decide the NFC West.

Here’s another division game (we’re not doing it on purpose). We’re just looking for great matchups and this qualifies. There’s Lamar Jackson vs. Joe Burrow. There’s Trey Hendrickson playing against his former team. There’s potential for bad weather and there’s a chance for serious playoffs implications. It checks all the Christmas Day boxes.

We finally have a non-division on our wish list and it would be a great nightcap on the West Coast. The country would get to see Jim Harbaugh’s first game against his former team, the 49ers. Both teams should be in the thick of their conference’s playoff hunts and it would be a fun matchup on a national stage.

This may not promise to have major playoff implications, but it’s an heated rivalry and these have played some entertaining games on both Christmas Day and on Black Friday in recent seasons. So, this matchup is worthy of getting consideration. Raiders’ rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza should be well into his playing career with the current expectation that veteran Kirk Cousins will start the season. Plus, Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes should be closer to form again after he returns from an ACL tear. It would be a fun watch.