Well, the NFL released the first eye-raising Commanders 2025 game into the media.
Oh, it’s not eyebrow-raising that the NFL would like to have the Eagles and Commanders square off in a December contest. In fact, it’s entirely understandable that the NFL has determined the Commanders will face the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium on December 20, 2025.
In addition, it will mean a home game against the Eagles late in the season, as the Commanders experienced last season. However, of more significance is the fact that December 20 is a Saturday, not Sunday. Don’t overlook this at all. Even more, I believe it to be the most significant factor in this game being scheduled as it is by the NFL.
Why?
Well, we can be altogether certain that the NFL will want to schedule good games on Christmas day, as the NFL has already pre-determined that there will be three games played on Christmas this 2025 season.
Thirdly, scheduling the Commanders and Eagles on Saturday provides the NFL with one more day. They can (and probably will) schedule one or both teams again to play on Christmas Day, the 25th, which this year falls on a Thursday. I can hear the league office justifying scheduling either or both teams on Christmas: “Well, we gave them an extra day, having them play on Saturday the 20th,” they will tell us.
Don’t fall for it; it’s not an extra day at all. Saturday to Thursday is two days shorter than Sunday to Sunday. I’ve been strongly opposed to Thursday games since the NFL increased its unsympathetic scheduling of weekly Thursday games. Why would it be any easier on the players now? It’s not, and playing on Christmas Day just takes that many more players away from home and celebrating Christmas.
Commanders fans, beware. The NFL will schedule the Commanders for more prime-time games this season. This will mean late nights for fans and media, who will have to turn around and work the next morning as well. So, I could be wrong here, but I can’t help but be skeptical that the NFL might schedule either of these teams on Christmas Day as well.
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