NFL Week 16 Schedule

Week 16 of the NFL schedule brings us to the third week of December and with it comes not one but three Christmas Day Games. This year, Christmas falls on a Monday, and the NFL has lined up three games to keep everyone thoroughly entertained over the holidays.

Those looking to just relax over the Christmas break can enjoy an extended weekend of games as we will have games spread out over Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Week 16 gets us underway with the New Orleans Saints visiting the Los Angeles Rams at Sofi Stadium on Thursday Night Football.

Below is the complete schedule for Week 16:

Game on Thursday, December 21

• New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams

The Saints find themselves in the pleasant climate of Los Angeles as they lock horns with the Rams. Both teams have had their struggles this season, with the Rams needing a change to get back to their Super Bowl-winning level a couple of years ago.

The Saints, on the other hand, aren’t the best team in the NFC, but they are in the weakest division in the NFC South, giving them an edge for the playoff spot. With the Panthers out of the race and the Buccaneers and Falcons remaining, the Saints will want to win this game to keep the advantage with themselves.

Game on Saturday, December 23

• Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

A very important game in the grand scheme of things is between AFC North rivals Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a challenging conference with four good teams having various strengths and weaknesses, the postseason spot may just come down to the wire.

Maintaining the top spot in the division is the only guaranteed way of going to the playoffs and therefore, both the Bengals and the Steelers would be eyeing a win after each team got off to slow starts at the beginning of the year.

Games on Sunday, December 24

• Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings

Here we have another divisional matchup between NFC North rivals Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The Lions have had a tremendous season so far but the Vikings are still a good team despite losing their QB1 Kirk Cousins back in week 8.

The Lions seem the most likely to make it to the playoffs from this division, but the Vikings could be in the running for a wildcard spot. Therefore, this game will be more important for them.

• Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins

Two teams who are good on paper. The Dallas Cowboys are supposed to have a good defense and the Miami Dolphins are supposed to have a good offense. Dispatching weaker teams has generally not been a problem for both teams, but they have been severely tested when coming up against tougher opponents.

Going up against each other in this week 16 encounter means we could be in for an exciting contest. Will Dak Prescott be able to lead his team over the Dolphins or can Tua Tagovailoa and the speedsters around him come through in this important matchup?

Game on Monday, December 25

• Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

Christmas afternoon brings us an all-AFC West contest as the Las Vegas Raiders travel to Kansas City to battle it out with the Chiefs. Ideally, this game should not be too difficult to call considering the Raiders' awful season thus far despite the Chiefs not looking their best.

Yet, there are always surprises in store, and the Chiefs only have to look back to their shocking week 8 loss to Denver as a reminder that anything goes in this league. As the race heats up for the right to the number one seed in the conference, this game will be very important for the Chiefs.

• New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

The second of the triple-header on Christmas Day brings us an all-NFC East contest as the New York Giants go to Lincoln Financial Field to challenge the mighty Philadelphia Eagles. A tale of two different stories in this case as the Giants are near the bottom end of the table whereas the Eagles are at the top. A win is a win though and the Eagles need to focus and get the job done else the Cowboys could eventually edge them out in the NFC East.

• Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers

The final Christmas Day game of the year is expected to be a fascinating one. This game between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers should provide the fans with an exciting finish to week 16 as both are quality sides looking to fight for the number one spot in their respective conferences.

The 49ers got off to a brilliant start at 5-0 only to then drop their next three games. On the other hand, the Ravens have a great defense and their offense is also firing, giving them all-round performances as a team.

Teams with Bye Week

No teams have a bye week for week 16.

FAQs

Q. Will there be Christmas Day games in week 16 this year?

1. Yes, the NFL has scheduled three games on Monday, December 25, all at different times of the day in this year’s week 16 schedule.

Q. Which teams are playing on Christmas Day?

1. The Raiders are playing the Chiefs in the early afternoon game, followed by the Giants and Eagles in the late afternoon game. Christmas Day ends with the Ravens against the 49ers.

Q. How many games are scheduled for Saturday in week 16?

1. Two Saturday games are scheduled for week 16, including the Bengals at the Steelers and the Bills at the Chargers.

Q. Which team is playing the Detroit Lions in week 16?

1. The Detroit Lions have an NFC North matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

Q. Who will broadcast the Christmas Eve Sunday Night Football game?

1. The Sunday Night Christmas Eve game between the Patriots and the Broncos will be shown on the NFL Network.