What better way to spend Christmas Eve than with a full slate of NFL games. Well, maybe spending Christmas Eve with your loved ones. OK, so let’s try again: What better way to spend Christmas Eve than with your loved ones, watching a full slate of NFL games?
There are major implications in Sunday’s games, too. The Rams, Chiefs, Saints, Falcons, and Panthers can all clinch playoff spots with a win.
The Browns can also clinch with a loss to the Bears ... the first pick in the 2018 NFL draft, that is.
If you can’t keep an eye on the games, we’ve got you covered. Follow along with us for all the latest news and best highlights:
Highlights
The Saints trolled the Falcons by covering up the team entry with a bus on the Jumbotron.
Drew Brees becomes the third NFL quarterback to go over 70,000 passing yards.
A random Michigan State logo appeared on the field during the Falcons-Saints broadcast.
Tom Brady threw a pick-six against the Bills, his first since Super Bowl LI.
Tom Brady caught the Bills with 15 men on the field, which is impressively illegal.
Marshon Lattimore picked off Matt Ryan with a BUTT INTERCEPTION.
Why Kelvin Benjamin’s touchdown against the Patriots was overturned.
Devonta Freeman gave us Butt Fumble 2.0 for Christmas.
Should Marshon Lattimore have been called for pass interference against Julio Jones?
The Browns got within 3 yards of their first TD of the day ... then fumbled it into the end zone.
Injuries
Cam Newton left the game against the Bucs after taking a big hit. Derek Anderson came in to replace him to finish up the series, but Newton returned on the next drive.
Week 16 scores and schedule (all times Eastern)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., FOX
Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., CBS
Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., FOX
Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m., CBS
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, 1 p.m., CBS
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., FOX
Los Angeles Chargers at New York Jets, 1 p.m., CBS
Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., FOX
Denver Broncos at Washington, 1 p.m., CBS
Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m., CBS
New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Before the games
There are only two weeks left in the NFL regular season, and things get particularly hot here in the holiday weekend, with several clinching scenarios and teams desperately clinging to playoff hopes.
The early Sunday window features an intense NFC South rivalry when the Saints (10-4) host the Falcons (9-5), who beat New Orleans just two weeks ago. The division race is far from settled, so this game will have major ramifications on the standings — especially if the Panthers (10-4) somehow fall to the Buccaneers (4-10) during the same time slot.
The Lions (8-6) will be watching those battles intently when they face the Bengals, because Detroit needs to win out and get help to keep its Wild Card hopes alive. A Falcons win will officially eliminate the Lions, who lost the head-to-head tiebreaker to Atlanta.
Likewise, the Seahawks and Cowboys (both 8-6) need all the help they can get heading into a late-afternoon showdown, which doubles as an elimination game — the loser is out of the playoff race for good. The Seahawks are trying to save face after the Rams humiliated them at home last week, but they have to deal with Ezekiel Elliott, who’s coming back from suspension.
Another early game to watch for is the Patriots hosting the Bills, who are trying to end their 18-year playoff drought. The last time these teams met, Rob Gronkowski concussed Tre’Davious White on a blatant cheap shot, so we can expect no love lost there.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Bills respond in a high-pressure situation, especially with the Chargers on their toes in the Wild Card race. As you might recall, Buffalo threw away a game by needlessly benching Tyrod Taylor for Nathan Peterman, who threw five interceptions in a loss to the Chargers. Now L.A. (7-7) is just one game behind Buffalo (8-6) with a winnable matchup against the Jets. It would be cruel poetic irony if the Bills missed the playoffs by that head-to-head tiebreaker.