Which NFL game on Christmas 2021? Time, TV channels, schedule for NFL Week 16
Normally, the NBA dominates Christmas Day. But in 2021, they will have to compete with an NFL duel.
NFL no always Schedule games for Christmas, but this year the holiday falls on a Saturday. The NFL usually hosts Saturday night football games at the end of the season, so the league has calculated that it will put a few games on the calendar.
This is the league’s first Christmas doubles tournament in four years, and there’s a lot of playoff-related intrigue surrounding these games. Each team is vying for a championship or Wild Card slot, and each team will be hoping to boost their playoff chances with a win on Saturday.
Here’s everything there is to know about the NFL’s Christmas games in 2021, including which teams are playing and how to watch each game.
THAN: Watch NFL Christmas games live on fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Which teams will be playing at Christmas 2021?
Game | Start time | Channel |
Browns at Packers | 4:30 p.m. ET | Fox / NFL Network |
Colts at Cardinals | 8:15 p.m. ET | NFL Network |
The NFL is broadcasting its first Christmas Day duo since 2017. They had a game last season, when the Vikings and the Saints squared off in a game where Alvin Kamara dominated.
This year, the Browns will face the Packers to kick off the Christmas action. The Colonels and Cardinals will then face off against each other in a highly anticipated night-time match that will prove crucial in deciding the matches between NFC West and AFC South.
This will mark the NFL’s first Saturday game of the year. They were supposed to have a game in Week 15 but the Browns had their game against the Raiders pushed back two days to Monday night. Therefore, they will play short-term with the Packers.
Christmas football on which channel?
Browns at Packers
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: Fox | NFL Network
- Direct: Amazon Prime | fuboTV
Fox and NFL Network will team up to broadcast the Browns-Packers game. They did that for most of the season for “Thursday Night Football,” but this week, they opted to host a Christmas game instead of their usual “TNF” broadcast.
The Browns will fight to stay in the AFC North and AFC Wild Card races in this competition. AFC North is currently a logjam, but if they can stay healthy after the COVID outbreak, they will have a chance to win.
Meanwhile, the Packers are well on their way to the NFC North title but still have to battle the Buccaneers, Cardinals and Rams for the No. 1 seed in NFC. So Aaron Rodgers will deliver his A-game as Green Bay tries to end that.
Colts at Cardinals
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: NFL Network
- Direct: fuboTV
NFL Network will be broadcasting its own Colts-Cardinals game, so those without the channel will have to turn to streaming alternatives to watch it. One of those options is fuboTV, which comes with seven-day free trial.
The Colts are on a big win over the Patriots and are looking to keep the heat, as they have won seven of their last nine games. They are battling the Titans for the top spot in the AFC South and are also fighting to stay ahead in the AFC Wild Card race.
As for the Cardinals, they lost head-to-head games for the first time this season to the Rams and the Lions. Their subsequent loss was shameful, as the Lions had only one win in the match, so they’ll be looking to bounce back from that defeat.
History of NFL playing at Christmas
There have been 22 Christmas games in NFL history, including the one between the Vikings and the Saints last season. The first NFL Christmas game was played in 1971, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and it featured the Cowboys and Vikings.
Prior to last season, the NFL hadn’t played at Christmas since 2017, and the league played only five games on holiday in the 2010s. They will play three games in the first two years of the 2020s, with the provision. The fact is that there are no COVID related delays of this year’s games.
NFL Schedule Week 16
Week 16
Game | Start time | Channel |
49ers at Titans | 8:20 p.m. ET | NFLN |
Game | Start time | Channel |
Browns at Packers | 4:30 p.m. ET | Fox / NFL / Amazon |
Colts at Cardinals | 8:15 p.m. ET | NFL Network |
Game | Start time | Channel |
Giants in the Eagles | 1 p.m. ET | fox |
Rams in Vikings | 1 p.m. ET | fox |
Bills at Patriots | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
Buccaneers at Panthers | 1 p.m. ET | fox |
Jaguars at Jets | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
Lion at falcon | 1 p.m. ET | fox |
Chargers in Texas | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
Crows in Bengals | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
Bears at Seahawks | 4:05 p.m. ET | fox |
Steelers at Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
Broncos at Raiders | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
Washington football team at Cowboys | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
Game | Start time | Channel |
Dolphins at Saints | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |