The NFL continues expanding its holiday viewing footprint, and the 2026 Christmas schedule appears loaded with playoff implications, historic rivalries, and several other games that would simply preview January soccer. This 12 months’s Christmas tripleheader arrives on Friday, December 25, with Netflix carrying two games earlier than FOX closes the night time with one in every of the NFC’s premier rivalries. Before Christmas Day formally arrives, the vacation slate technically begins on Christmas Eve when the Houston Texans visit the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
Here’s a rating of the NFL’s 2026 vacation schedule from least intriguing to most compelling.
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4. Texans at Eagles (Christmas Eve)
Nov 3, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight finish Dallas Goedert (88) indicators after making a primary down throughout the fourth quarter towards the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
This recreation nonetheless deserves consideration due to the star energy concerned.
DeMeco Ryans returns to Philadelphia, the place he as soon as served as one in every of the Eagles‘ defensive leaders earlier than turning into the head coach of the Houston Texans. Reed Blankenship returns after incomes a Super Bowl ring after becoming a member of the Birds as an undrafted free agent. The Texans additionally stay one in every of the AFC’s hardest younger groups and will arrive in Philadelphia carrying main playoff aspirations. Still, in comparison with the Christmas Day matchups, this recreation lacks the similar rivalry depth and broader nationwide intrigue.
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That mentioned, the Eagles getting into the recreation on a brief week after dealing with the Seattle Seahawks in a possible thriller actually makes the matchup extra harmful.
3. Packers at Bears
Jan 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) warms up previous to an NFC Wild Card Round recreation towards the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
The NFL clearly understands the energy of custom.
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears rivalry stays one in every of soccer’s oldest and most recognizable matchups, and putting it in the opening Christmas window ensures huge viewership. Chicago’s rise underneath Ben Johnson has added legit intrigue to the rivalry once more, particularly after the Bears knocked off Philadelphia final season and continued their ascent inside the NFC North. Still, whereas historic and emotional, the recreation at present lacks the elite heavyweight really feel connected to the prime two matchups on the slate.
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2. Bills at Broncos
Josh Allen #17, Buffalo Bills (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
Now we’re stepping into severe AFC enterprise.
Buffalo Bills versus the Denver Broncos carries legit playoff-rematch vitality and options a number of of the AFC’s greatest stars. Josh Allen alone ensures nationwide consideration, and Denver’s continued rise makes this really feel like one in every of the convention’s extra necessary measuring-stick games.
The environment in Denver throughout a Christmas afternoon window additionally feels good for playoff soccer aesthetics.
1. Rams at Seahawks
Dec 18, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams large receiver Puka Nacua (12) makes a catch towards Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) in extra time at Lumen Field.
This looks like the crown jewel of the complete vacation slate, and a possible high-scoring affair.
The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks rivalry has developed into one in every of the NFL’s nastiest and most entertaining divisional battles. Seattle enters 2026 as the defending Super Bowl champion, whereas Sean McVay’s Rams stay one in every of the NFC’s most harmful playoff threats. Add a primetime Christmas night time viewers and the environment at Lumen Field, and this recreation instantly feels huge.
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This matchup additionally carries legit postseason-seeding implications. If each groups meet expectations, Christmas night time may characteristic two NFC contenders battling for playoff positioning with the complete soccer world watching.
That is strictly what the NFL desires throughout the holidays.
The league has aggressively expanded its Christmas footprint lately, and judging by the high quality of the 2026 slate, the NFL clearly has no plans of slowing down.
This article initially appeared on Eagles Wire: Where does Eagles-Texans land in ranking of the NFL’s Christmas games