The NFL announced a huge late-December matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, but in the process, they may have accidentally spoiled their Christmas slate.
Nothing is official, but after reading the tea leaves, don't be surprised if the Packers take the national stage on Christmas Day.
Last season, the league featured four teams in a Saturday doubleheader in Week 16 and then ran it back with the same teams four days later on Christmas. It sure looks like they're doing it again.
Along with the Packers-Bears game in Week 16, the Philadelphia Eagles will visit the Washington Commanders. That's notable because these four teams play each other this season. If the league follows last season's scheduling pattern, we can expect two NFC North vs. NFC East showdowns on Christmas Day.
Green Bay has featured in two Christmas Day games over the past four seasons. Maybe, just maybe, we'll get another this winter.
The NFL may have accidentally foreshadowed a Packers' Christmas game against Eagles or Commanders
Putting these four teams on the Saturday slate, not Sunday, gives them an additional day of recovery by making it a five-day gap to Christmas instead of four.
Let's talk matchups.
Green Bay hosts Philadelphia and Washington this season, while Chicago plays both teams on the road.
How about a Packers-Eagles playoff revenge game on Christmas Day? A rematch of the wild Bears-Commanders Hail Mary stunner from last season? Who says no?
Again, this is pure speculation, but it's beginning to add up. The league took this exact approach last season. Pick four teams for the Week 16 Saturday slate and then have them all play again on Christmas.
We'll see. A huge NFC showdown at a snowy Lambeau Field on Christmas Day? It doesn't get any better than that.
Recent history tells us it will happen.