Open presents in the morning, watch games in the afternoon.
That’s what’s likely on tap for many NFL fans Saturday as there will be doubleheader action, starting with the Browns taking on the Packers and ending in the night with the Colts playing the Cardinals.
It’s bound to be an exciting day in the league, as all four teams are playing with high stakes on the line. While Aaron Rodgers and the Packers locked up the NFC North last Sunday with a win against the Ravens, they are still on the hunt to claim the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Browns, on the other hand, will have their first game with Baker Mayfield back under center as they hope to pick up a win in a tough end-of-season slate to stay alive in the tightly contested AFC North.
MORE: Watch NFL Christmas games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
One team along with the Packers vying for that No. 1 spot is the Cardinals, who did themselves no favors last Sunday in losing to the Lions. They’re now a game behind Green Bay after losing two straight games, including one to the NFC West rival Rams in Week 14. The road won’t be any easier for them as they face the Colts, who are coming off a 27-17 win against the Patriots. Jonathan Taylor had another dominating game as he continued to state his MVP case, rushing for 170 yards and scoring a touchdown to help lead Indianapolis to its seventh win in its past nine contests.
Sporting News has you covered with everything you need to know to watch the two games on Christmas day.
What teams are playing on Christmas?
Game 1
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 25
- Matchup: Browns at Packers
- Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Start time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Game 2
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 25
- Matchup: Colts at Cardinals
- Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Mayfield and Rodgers will meet for the first time in the late afternoon Christmas day matchup. Rodgers has only faced the Browns twice in his career, playing against them on Oct. 20, 2013, and Oct. 25, 2009, both times coming away with a win. The Browns and Packers last met on Dec. 10, 2017, but Rodgers was injured and unable to play in the game. The Packers still won 27-21 in overtime. All-time, the Packers have a 12-7 edge in the series.
Similarly, this will also be the first time that Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz play one another. Murray previously beat the Eagles on Dec. 20, 2020, but that win came against Jalen Hurts. This will also be the first time the Colts have played the Cardinals since Sept. 17, 2017, when Arizona won 16-13 in overtime. All-time, the Colts and Cardinals — dating back to the Baltimore and St. Louis days — sit at an even 8-8 record against one another.
NFL power rankings: Packers go to No. 1 as Buccaneers, Cardinals drop; Chiefs, Cowboys rise for Week 16
What channel are the NFL games on tonight?
Browns vs. Packers
Fans hoping to catch the Browns take on the Packers will have two options on cable to watch the clash: Fox and the NFL Network. While the “Thursday Night Football” matchup this week stopped the simulcast between the two networks for the game, it will be back for the Christmas afternoon matchup.
Looking to stream the game instead? fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial, carries the NFL Network and will be an option to view the Christmas afternoon game.
Colts vs. Cardinals
The Colts and Cardinals will only be found on the NFL Network and will not be simulcast on Fox.
For those without the network available on cable, fuboTV, which has a seven-day free trial, carries the NFL Network and will be an option to view the Christmas evening matchup.
NFL history playing on Christmas
The NFL first had a doubleheader on Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 25, 1971, when the Cowboys played against the Vikings and the Dolphins played against the Chiefs. The NFL was only 14 weeks that season, so those two games were each divisional playoff games. The Cowboys, who went on to win the Super Bowl that year, beat the Vikings 20-12, while the Dolphins, whom the Cowboys beat, won 27-24 in overtime against the Chiefs. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it was the longest game in the league’s history.
Since then, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has recorded 21 more games that have played on Christmas. The Cowboys have been involved in five of those games, the most of any team, as they continue their track record of appearing on television sets on holidays. There were three straight Christmas doubleheaders from 2004 to 2006, and two back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.
NFL schedule Week 16
Here’s the full schedule for Week 16 of the NFL season, plus final scores and how to watch every game live.
Note: national broadcasts are listed in bold
Thursday, Dec. 23
| Game | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| 49ers at Titans | 8:20 p.m. | NFL Network, fuboTV |
Saturday, Dec. 25
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Browns at Packers | 4:30 p.m. | FOX, NFL Network, fuboTV |
| Colts at Cardinals | 8:15 p.m. | NFL Network, fuboTV |
Sunday, Dec. 26
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Lions at Falcons | 1:00 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Ravens at Bengals | 1:00 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Rams at Vikings | 1:00 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Bills at Patriots | 1:00 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Jaguars at Jets | 1:00 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Giants at Eagles | 1:00 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Buccaneers at Panthers | 1:00 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Chargers at Texans | 1:00 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Bears at Seahawks | 4:05 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Steelers at Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Broncos at Raiders | 4:25 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Washington at Cowboys | 8:20 p.m. | NBC, fuboTV |
Monday, Dec. 27
| Game | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Dolphins at Saints | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
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