Which NFL teams have never played on Christmas Day?

The NFL has held Christmas games intermittently through the years, and there haven’t been all that many- there have been only a total of 22 Christmas Day games played in all of league history. This is due partly to scheduling problems, as the holiday doesn’t always fall on a day when games are usually held.

Not all teams have been lucky enough (or unlucky, depending on one’s perspective) to have played in these special holiday games. Quite a number have never participated in the NFL Christmas celebrations, while some teams have found themselves on the field several times on this day.

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Top performers

The team that has brought its fans the most Christmas cheer is the Dallas Cowboys, who have played in five games, including the very first-ever Christmas games in 1971.

Next on the list- the Minnesota Vikings with four games played, including the first-ever game in 1971 when they hosted the Cowboys. They are tied with the Tennessee Titans who have also participated four times.

In third place, with three games played apiece, are the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Miami Dolphins.

Missing out

There are twelve NFL teams that have not had the chance to entertain their fans at Christmastime, although two of them will have that opportunity this year. The first-timers in 2021 are the Cleveland Browns, who are set to play against the Green Bay Packers; and the Indianapolis Colts, who will face the Arizona Cardinals. It will be the third time around for both the Packers and the Cardinals.

After this year, provided none of the Christmas games are cancelled, there will only be ten teams that would not have played on this day. Maybe next year!