NFL has a Christmas Day problem with no Patrick Mahomes and dud matchups

This isn’t what Roger Goodell had in mind.

Last year, the NFL effectively stole Christmas Day from the NBA, drawing massive ratings as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens handled the Houston Texans.

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Both Christmas games were streamed on Netflix for the first time ever and while neither game was particularly close, the ratings painted a different picture.

The Chiefs–Steelers matchup averaged 30.0 million viewers worldwide, while Ravens–Texans drew 31.3 million globally.

The two contests dominated the platform throughout the day, marking Netflix’s most-watched Christmas Day ever in the United States. According to Nielsen Big Data + Panel, the games averaged 26.5 million viewers in the U.S.

Once Goodell and the NFL saw the massive numbers, it was clear they weren’t giving the holiday back.

Even LeBron James‘ best efforts couldn’t change that, despite the Lakers and Warriors delivering an instant classic to close out the day.

Knowing it can do just about anything it wants, the NFL went ahead and scheduled three games this Christmas.

There’s just one problem: four of the six teams playing have been eliminated from the postseason and have little left to play for, while injuries have sidelined the game’s biggest stars.

In other words, it could be a long and ugly day of football.

To get things started, the 6-8-1 Cowboys will travel to face the 4-11 Jayden Daniels-less Commanders and prepare to face either Marcus Mariota or Josh Johnson.

Absolutely riveting.

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In the afternoon, Max Brosmer and the 7-8 Vikings will welcome the 8-7 Lions. Yikes.

Then, in the evening, what should have been a showdown for the AFC West has lost its shine, as the 6-9 Chiefs are now without their star quarterback and Gardner Minshew and will rely on Chris Oladokun to face the 12-3 Broncos.

Of course, there’s no way to predict a team’s success or who will be injured by the time Week 17 rolls around, but it is notable.

It’s the NFL. People will watch, especially on a day when families around the world gather in one household and turn on the TV.

But this year, what if, instead of watching Mariota, Brosmer, or Oladokun, the remote flips to the NBA, where the slate is absolutely loaded.

The NBA has five games, all looking to be entertaining.

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Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady?

Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top?

Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and more

Tight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare?

Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers will go toe-to-toe with the NBA Cup champion Knicks. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will face the Thunder once again in what is already shaping up to be a mini rivalry.

Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks will take on Stephen Curry, while Kevin Durant and the Rockets face James, Luka Doncic, and the Lakers.

It will be James’ record 20th Christmas Day game.

Lastly, Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic will close out the night in the Mile High City.

For once, NBA commissioner Adam Silver may get the last laugh over Goodell.

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