Christmas Day is traditionally a time for family, friends, and festive cheer. But for some people, it’s also a time for football. The NFL has been scheduling games on Christmas Day since 1971, but this year, they are planning to take it up a notch.
According to NBC Sports, the NFL is expected to schedule three games for Christmas Day, which falls on a Monday this year. This is the first time since 2017 that Christmas falls on a Monday and the league wants to take advantage of last year’s ratings boom.
Per CBS Sports, 26 million people tuned in to see the Packers-Dolphins Christmas game on Christmas this past year. That marked the first time that the NFL had three games on Christmas, albeit on a Sunday.
The NFL has already had Christmas Day games in each of the last three seasons. But they’ve never tried to have games on Christmas in four straight seasons.
The games themselves weren’t all great. The Broncos-Rams game was a blowout while the Buccaneers-Cardinals game only had stakes for one of the participating teams.
But as you can see from the numbers above, the NFL decisively outperformed the NBA in the ratings battle. And the NBA has historically been the go-to sport in America on Christmas Day.
So why is the NFL trying to dominate Christmas Day? And how do fans and players feel about this move?
One possible reason is that the NFL wants to capitalize on its popularity and expand its audience. The league has been facing some challenges in recent years, such as declining attendance, player protests, concussion lawsuits, and COVID-19 outbreaks. By scheduling more games on Christmas Day, the NFL hopes to attract more viewers and generate more revenue.
Another possible reason is that the NFL wants to compete with other sports and entertainment options on Christmas Day. The NBA has been airing five games on Christmas Day since 2008, featuring some of the best teams and players in the league. The NBA also has a global fan base and a strong social media presence. By scheduling more games on Christmas Day, the NFL hopes to challenge the NBA’s dominance and showcase its own stars and stories.
But not everyone is happy about the NFL’s plans. Some fans and players have expressed their displeasure with having to watch or play football on Christmas Day. They argue that Christmas Day should be reserved for spending time with loved ones and celebrating the holiday spirit. They also point out that playing football on Christmas Day can be physically and mentally exhausting for the players and coaches, who have to sacrifice their family time and holiday traditions.
Here are some of the reactions from Twitter:
@NFLFan: I love football but I don’t want to watch it on Christmas Day. That’s family time. #NFL #Christmas
@NBALover: The NFL can’t touch the NBA on Christmas Day. The NBA has better games, better players and better vibes. #NBA #Christmas
@PlayerX: Playing on Christmas Day is tough. You have to be away from your family and friends and focus on the game. It’s not fair to us or our fans. #NFL #Christmas
@PlayerY: Playing on Christmas Day is an honor. You get to entertain millions of people and share your passion with them. It’s a gift to us and our fans. #NFL #Christmas
@CoachZ: Coaching on Christmas Day is stressful. You have to prepare your team and deal with all the media and logistics. It’s not easy to balance your work and your life. #NFL #Christmas
@CoachW: Coaching on Christmas Day is rewarding. You get to lead your team and compete at the highest level. It’s a challenge that motivates you and your players. #NFL #Christmas
As you can see, there are mixed opinions about the NFL’s plans to schedule three games for Christmas Day this year. Some people are excited about it, while others are opposed to it.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to watching or playing football on Christmas Day? Or do you think it’s a bad idea? Let us know in the comments below.
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