The Best Christmas Day NFL Games Of All Time

It's not every year that we get to see the NFL come out in full festive spirit. Still, when the league does, it takes things to entirely new levels. Are they the best gifts that football fans could ask for the year? They very well might be, with the best Christmas Day NFL games of all time showing just how great things can be.

Of course, having fewer games to their name means that it doesn't take as much for them to stand out. That doesn't mean that the NFL has been without its fair share of incredible games throughout the festive period, especially with the 20-plus Christmas games it has under its belt already.

2006: Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets

Football fans from the Northeast know a thing or two about playing their favorite sport in all kinds of weather, including when the sky opens and we have to battle against the elements, too. That was the case when the Dolphins took on the jets back on Christmas Day 2006, with viewers getting a glimpse into what the heart and soul of football is really all about. In fact, the weather was so bad in the first half of the game that no one scored any points at all, before the New York Jets came along and just clinched a victory in the final quarter of the epic game. 

1971: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins

Things were very different in the NFL back in 1971, especially as it was the first time we got to see teams take to the field on Christmas Day. The twist? There weren't one, but two. While the first wasn't anything exciting, the second between the Chiefs and the Dolphins was all the excitement fans hoped to see. As well as being the longest game in NFL history - lasting a staggering 82 minutes and 40 seconds - it was ultimately the Dolphins that walked away victorious from it all.

2010: Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals

Let's face it; the Cowboys have a host of fans that know how to make their presence known. That didn't stop many from wondering if their game against the Arizona Cardinals in 2010 would be anything to write home about. Amazingly, both teams gave the game their all and gave us one of the most memorable Christmas Day NFL games of all time in the process. The Cardinals took two interceptions in the first half of the game, giving them a quick lead, but the Cowboys weren't going down without a fight. In fact, they fought so hard that they ultimately won the game in the last five seconds. 

2016: Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

A winning touchdown in the final nine seconds and two of the biggest teams in the NFL going head to head. Is there anything else football fans need for Christmas? It seems not, as the Ravens and Steelers didn't disappoint when it came to their Christmas Day game in 2016. The Steelers immediately found themselves fighting a losing battle as they slipped further and further behind. That was until the last few minutes of the game when they managed to pull off an incredible comeback that was the perfect end to the year between what is still a heated rivalry.

The best Christmas Day NFL games of all time have certainly given us more than a few memorable moments throughout the years. While they might not be an annual event just yet, it makes them even more special when they come along and blow things out of the water.