🏈 Could NFL Take Over Christmas Day?

Before long, watching pro football on television on Christmas Day could be standard. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: Christmas this season came with a side of football, something that may become tradition sooner than later … Despite a loss the Eagles still are the top team in the NFL after Week 16, but one young team is making a late season charge … and more! There was a time, not so many decades ago, when it was thought inappropriate to watch professional football on television on Christmas Day. Before long, without too much stretch of the imagination, it may be regarded as strange not to. On top of all the other things we learned over the past weekend, it was that festive football continues to work resoundingly well, and that pigskin and pigs-in-blankets go together nicely, just like touchdowns and turkey, sacks and stuffing, and fourth downs and fixings. Whereas Dec. 25 was once largely the preserve of the NBA and the biggest names in basketball, it's certainly not the case anymore, and whether a fully-fledged battle emerges over Santa's favorite day will be an intriguing sports subplot over the coming years. With Christmas Day this year falling on a Sunday, the NFL played three games amid the Yuletide swing, which raised some eyebrows and was, most observers imagine, a clear signal of intent. Not just from the Green Bay Packers, who kept their playoff hopes bubbling by beating the Miami Dolphins. Or from the Los Angeles Rams, which smashed Denver and also put Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett on the chopping block. Or from Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, staying in pole position in the NFC South with a narrow comeback win against the Arizona Cardinals. No, the biggest move was by the league itself, in the past planning stages, by sticking a triple-header on a day it avoided for a long, long time. Indeed, after placing two postseason games on Christmas in 1971 drew national complaint and a serious uproar, the NFL steered cleared of the 25th until 1989. For the rest of the story, [click here.]( [STORY IMAGE 1] [IN OTHER WORDS] - Despite their loss in Dallas, the Eagles stay No. 1. The top teams hold steady, but an [upstart squad breaks into the top 10](. Bucky Brooks ranks the NFL after Week 16. - The Titans have struggled mightily in the second half of this NFL season, especially on offense. [What could a rebuild look like]( Ben Arthur breaks down a few steps. - Which players and teams are feeling joyous or down after a big Christmas slate – from a [dunk of the year candidate]( to some declawed Grizzlies, Melissa Rohlin has the latest in the NBA. - Michigan, Creighton and Villanova are among eight preseason AP Top 25 teams that have [work to do to reach the Big Dance]( Andy Katz writes. For the latest news and updates, [click here.]( [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Seton Hall Pirates at Marquette Golden Eagles (FS1, 8 p.m. ET) Seton Hall looks to claim its first conference win when they travel to Marquette in a Big East showdown. New York Knicks at Dallas Mavericks (NBATV, 8:30 p.m. ET) Julius Randle and the Knicks head to Dallas to battle Luka Dončić and the Mavericks. Wisconsin Badgers vs Oklahoma State Cowboys (ESPN, 10:15 p.m. ET) The Badgers and Cowboys both look to extend their bowl win streaks to three games when they face off in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. For all of today's games and scores, [click here](. [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( East Carolina Pirates vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: East Carolina (-8.5) to win by more than 8.5 points From FOX Sports College Football Analyst: RJ Young The thrill of a third-straight double-digit winning season might not be enough for the Chants to overcome losing their change-agent coach Chadwell to Liberty. For the latest betting odds, [click here](. [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2022 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. Fox.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, California 90213-0900