Total Pro Sports
An NFL Christmas schedule that looked attractive as those boxes under your tree and that smorgasbord of goodies on your table now has the markings of scraps.
The league has long owned Thanksgiving, and in recent years, it has also claimed Black Friday. Clearly, that wasn’t enough, because Roger Goodell and Co. have since encroached on NBA territory: Christmas Day.
December 25 has traditionally been a day for basketball. However, the NFL’s partnership with Netflix has led to the introduction of a slate.
Three blockbuster-level games were announced when the schedule dropped, but that is no longer the case.
The NFL Christmas schedule for Thursday includes four teams that have already been eliminated from playoff contention, and there’s a scenario where three of the starting QBs could be Josh Johnson (#Commanders), Max Brosmer (#Vikings), and Chris Oladokun (#Chiefs). pic.twitter.com/yTvcDySrmY
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 22, 2025
This Thursday’s schedule features four teams that will be playing for pride, having been eliminated from the playoffs. And, given recent injuries, starting quarterbacks could include Josh Johnson, Mas Brosmer, and Chris Oladokun.
The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders play the first game at 1:00 PM. While the Cowboys have their starting QB, the Commanders might not even have their backup. Jayden Daniels has been shut down, and Marcus Mariota is day-to-day with hand and quad injuries.
Also, both teams have been eliminated from postseason play.
The Detroit Lions haven’t been eliminated, despite their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. But they are no longer in control of their own destiny. They play in the second game against the Minnesota Vikings at 4:00 PM.
Minnesota is already out, and J.J. McCarthy is dealing with a hand injury.
It goes without saying that the 8-7 Lions cannot afford to lose.
The aforementioned pair of games both air on Netflix. The final one, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos, will stream on Prime Video.
The Chiefs are also out of playoff contention and have lost Patrick Mahomes to a season-ending ACL injury.
In a freakish turn of events, their backup, Gardner Minshew, is also believed to have torn his ACL.
So yes, the NFL Christmas schedule has been nothing short of a disaster. But no one could have imagined this is where we would be in Week 17.
