The NFL has reached Christmas week.
Part of the league’s Christmas gift to you? An almost-full slate of games on Christmas Eve. However, you might not have a chance to watch every single game, depending on your plans for the day. So if you can only fit one or two games into your schedule this Sunday, we’ve gone ahead and ranked them by watchability.
And we can say at the outset, you can go ahead and make plans for Sunday night.
10. New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
This is the Christmas Eve, primetime game.
In many ways, this is the NFL’s gift to you. Or more accurately, a prompt to go spend time with your families. Sure, you could watch the 3-11 Patriots limp into Denver, where they have struggled over the years — New England is 11-17 playing at Denver — but there are a lot of other ways you can spend your time.
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
9. Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears
For a certain segment of the NFL viewing audience, this game might be worth watching.
Those people are NFL Draft fans.
As things stand right now, according to Tankathon, the Chicago Bears are in line for the first-overall selection next spring, thanks to their pick from the Carolina Panthers. Arizona, with their 3-11 record, are slated to pick third, behind Chicago (via Carolina) and the New England Patriots. As for Chicago’s own first-round pick, that is currently slotted in at the fifth spot.
Let’s put it this way: If you are someone who has been to “Veets” in Mobile before, you have an interest in this game. But if you have no idea what “Veets” is, then this is not the game for you.
8. Washington Commanders at New York Jets
Thank you Miami Dolphins, for sparing us from a week of “will he or won’t he” regarding Aaron Rodgers.
But all that means is that this game will be a battle of Zach Wilson/Trevor Siemian/Tim Boyle versus Sam Howell/Jacoby Brissett.
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
7. Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers played the spoiler role to perfection last week, stunning the Atlanta Falcons in a rainy and miserable game thanks to a game-winning drive from rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
That loss by Atlanta put their playoff position in peril, relegated Desmond Ridder to the bench, and now has owner Arthur Blank talking openly about the future of head coach Arthur Smith.
Can they do it two weeks in a row?
As for the Packers, this is a critical game for them. A few weeks ago they looked like a very fiesty team, coming off wins against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day and then the Kansas City Chiefs the following week. But since then? Losses to the New York Giants and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have put a huge dent in their playoff hopes.
This game does have some serious playoff implications, so it is worth keeping tabs on, but probably not worth sitting down to watch in its entirety.
6. Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are still fighting for the playoffs (and Arthur Smith’s job) at this point, but the Colts are in the midst of a playoff push. With head coach Shane Steichen creating an offense that’s getting the most out of castoff QB Gardner Minshew, Indy is still in the race for the AFC South crown. A win against the Falcons could be crucial in their chase, while putting more heat on the Jaguars and the Texans.
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
5. Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans
This one takes a bit of a damper with Titans’ QB Will Levis not practicing, but this still aims to be a pretty fun game. Seattle needs every win they can get in order to stay alive in the playoff race. The Seahawks are coming off an emotional comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles, and with QB Geno Smith’s health still up in the air, the Seahawks might be getting Drew Lock under center again.
It might not matter considering what Tennessee is trotting out there, but we’ll see!
4. Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Things are looking…bleak for the Jaguars right now. With QB Trevor Lawrence in concussion protocol and WR Zay Jones, CB Tyson Campbell and S Andre Cisco all dealing with injuries, they go to Tampa not only needing to win these last three games, but needing to pick themselves up after a rough stretch of games. The target on their back also looms large, with Houston and Indianapolis tied with Jacksonville for the same record. The Buccaneers are at the top of the NFC South, and looking to put the final touches on what has been an up and down season. Because the division isn’t locked up yet, this game looms large for both teams.
3. Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
A few weeks ago, this game might have topped the list. The Minnesota Vikings were riding high on the Josh Dobbs wave, and with the Detroit Lions slipping a bit, the door was slightly ajar for the Vikings to perhaps make the NFC North a two-team race.
Things have changed since then. The Vikings have lost two of their last three games, and the one victory was a 3-0 win against the Las Vegas Raiders that we will never speak of again. Dobbs has gone to the bench, with Nick Mullens starting in his place, and the Lions can lock up the division with a win in this game.
But with two potential playoff teams squaring off, and old rivals at that, this game is worth paying attention to.
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
2. Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans
Is this the “Coach of the Year Bowl?”
Kevin Stefanski has the Cleveland Browns on the verge of the playoffs — Cleveland can clinch a playoff spot with a win and some results breaking their way around the league this week — while starting his fourth quarterback of the year. That quarterback? Joe Flacco, who was a street free agent when the season began but has delivered two-straight wins for the Browns.
That sounds like Coach of the Year material for sure, but DeMeco Ryans has a case of his own. Many believed the Houston Texans were in a rebuilding year, and a playoff push was a few years down the road. But here they are in Week 16, tied atop the AFC South with the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
1. Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
Game of the Day? Absolutely.
Super Bowl preview? Honestly, there is an outside chance.
If you can only watch one game on Christmas Eve, this is the one to watch. Because not only is this the best game of the slate, but the narratives coming out of it will make for some incredible content.
