NFL: "I'll Be Back on Christmas Day"
Frosty the Snowman isn’t the only one coming back on Christmas Day. The National Football League will be joining him.
You probably know football is a Thanksgiving tradition. The NFL always holds multiple games on Thanksgiving Day and two teams, the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions, always play.
Christmas is a different story. It’s an unspoken rule; NFL games are a Thanksgiving tradition and Christmas Day is for NBA Basketball. Not this year. Though the NBA will still be holding games, the NFL will take primetime spots.
When Christmas falls on a day that the NFL normally plays (Thursday, Sunday or Monday) the league schedules games that day. This year, Christmas is on a Sunday. The NFL moved most games (12 to be exact) to Christmas Eve and left two games for Christmas day. The last time this happened was 2011.
The Steelers host the Ravens and the Broncos will head to Kanas City to face the Chiefs. The Steelers also played on Thanksgiving Day this year. For the complete Week 16 schedule check here.
Broncos @ Chiefs (8:30 p.m. EST on NBC)
Broncos currently have 8 wins and 6 losses with the Chiefs at 10 wins and 4 losses. Therefore, these teams are pretty well matched having strong defenses. Both teams are in the AFC West division where the Chiefs are in second place and Broncos in third. In November, the Chiefs barely beat the Broncos by three points. I am guessing a similar scenario will happen on Christmas.
Ellie’s Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs
Ravens @ Steelers (4:30 p.m. EST on NFL Network)
The Ravens and Steelers are also in the same league, the AFC North, with the Steelers currently winning the division with a record of 9 wins and 5 losses. The Ravens barely fall short in second place with a record of 8-6. The winner of this game will take home the division title. If you want to avoid awkward family discussion, watch (or pretend to) this midday match.
Ellie’s Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers
SIDE NOTE: Two of my favorite ex-Panthers play against each other in this match. Watch for Steve Smith Sr. at wide receiver for the Ravens and DeAngelo Williams at running back for the Steelers.
