Will the NFL give Packers a chance to end an 86-year drought?
Fans will love it, NFL teams will hate it.
The NFL will play two games on Christmas Day in 2024, despite it falling on a Wednesday. The four teams involved will play the previous Saturday, giving them a four-day gap similar to Thursday night games.
What could it mean for the Green Bay Packers?
It hasn't been revealed which teams will play on Christmas Day in 2024, but if the Packers are included, they would have a chance to end an 86-year drought.
Packers haven't played Wednesday game for 86 years
If Green Bay gets selected to play on Christmas this year, it will be its first Wednesday game in 86 years.
Wednesday games in the NFL are rare, but the Packers have played in one.
On September 28, 1938, the Packers defeated the Chicago Cardinals 24-22. Arnie Herber threw 10 passes, rushed once, and made two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. Cecil Isbell and Bob Monnett each threw touchdown passes.
These games will remain rare in the NFL, but we can expect to see them whenever Christmas falls on a Wednesday.
Asked about players playing 3 games in 11 days 15 weeks into the season, with Christmas games on a Wednesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says, "It will not be a regular thing. It will be when Christmas falls on a Wednesday."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 26, 2024
Said the COVID year gave them data on the topic.
From a Packers' perspective, they will hope not to be included in the Christmas schedule. While it's great for the fans, the team would have to play three crucial late-season games in the span of 11 days. Playing Sunday-Saturday-Wednesday isn't ideal for any team, especially if it requires lots of travel.
Those games could be crucial in the NFC playoff picture. The Packers should be in the mix with the Detroit Lions (and possibly Chicago Bears) for the NFC North title. The last thing they need is to play on consecutive short weeks over the Christmas period.
But it's possible. The Packers have played twice on Christmas Day over the past three seasons. They defeated the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field in 2021 and beat the Miami Dolphins on the road in 2022.
Hopefully, they won't have to play on Christmas again in 2024.
The Packers are sure to be in the spotlight if they continue to win, and you can make this fun offseason even better with a chance to win BIG at FanDuel! All you have to do is sign up, deposit $10 or more and then bet $5 or more on ANY team to win this week. If your team wins, you'll get $200 in bonus bets! Sign up with FanDuel with this link today.
More Packers news and analysis
manual