The National Football League (NFL) has an established tradition of not scheduling games on Christmas when it falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday. However, the significant 29% increase in viewership from Christmas 2022 to Christmas 2023 may potentially influence the league to reconsider this policy.
Historically, the NFL has avoided organizing games on Christmas around midweek due to the logistical challenges it presents. Nonetheless, it is entirely possible to identify viable solutions to this issue.
Looking ahead to Christmas 2024, which falls on a Wednesday between Week 16 and Week 17 of the regular season, it is entirely feasible to schedule three Wednesday games. One approach could involve giving the six teams a weekend off prior to the Christmas games, effectively making the Wednesday matchups their Week 17 contests. This would see the teams playing on Sunday, December 15, followed by games on Wednesday, December 25, and ultimately concluding the regular season on Sunday, January 4.
It is important to note that the late bye in Week 16 could pose challenges, particularly for fantasy football playoffs. However, history shows that teams have coped with early and late byes when the NFL had 31 franchises from 1999 to 2001. Thus, it’s not an insurmountable obstacle.
Another possible approach would be to have the six teams set to play on December 25 compete in their Week 16 matchups on Saturday, December 21. This would essentially replicate the weekly Sunday-to-Thursday turnaround, albeit with a Saturday-to-Wednesday schedule. Furthermore, these teams can engage in a tripleheader on Saturday, facing different opponents than their subsequent Wednesday matchups.
While these two methods are practical, it remains uncertain whether the NFL would need union approval to proceed with either option, as per the terms of the labor deal.
As for Christmas Eve 2024, which falls on a Tuesday, the solution seems even simpler. Week 16 could be extended by a day, allowing the two teams playing on Tuesday night to compete in their Week 17 game the following Monday. This could potentially be part of a Monday doubleheader, possibly featuring the two teams scheduled for Monday night on December 23 as well.
Alternatively, the league could expect the teams playing on Tuesday night to be ready for their next game on Sunday.
In summary, it is evident that the NFL has the capability to schedule games on Tuesdays or Wednesdays when the holiday falls midweek. This is supported by the fact that the injury rate does not significantly increase with a short turnaround between games, as shown by the league’s Thursday games. Furthermore, considering that some teams are already mandated to play two short-week games annually, it is entirely feasible for the NFL to arrange three games on Christmas 2024, and even one on Christmas Eve, should they choose to do so in light of the recent viewership trends.
