Why are there NFL games on Saturday? The reason for league's expanded Week 16 Christmas Eve schedule

Joe Rivera

•
Why are there NFL games on Saturday? The reason for league's expanded Week 16 Christmas Eve schedule image

Saturdays are for football.

We've reached the point in the NFL season where Saturdays join Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays as NFL days, much to the delight of some (and the chagrin of others, who want to spend their weekends away from their TV).

MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture for Week 16

For years, the NFL has opted to play games on Saturdays in December in the closing weeks of the season, spreading out their schedule over four days during the week instead of three. Since 1970, NFL games have been played on Saturdays at this point in the season, with 2013 the exception.

There is, though, a reason for that:

MORE: Watch Christmas Eve NFL games live with fuboTV (free trial)

Why are there NFL games on Saturday?

It all goes back to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. The law was made in response to Congress disallowing the NFL from negotiating TV rights because the government felt the league was violating antitrust laws. The U.S. government didn't like that the NFL was trying to sell TV rights deals en masse to CBS, where the teams would share rights equally.

The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 dictates that broadcasting rights of pro sports leagues are exempt from antitrust decisions — but it also contains language that says the NFL cannot broadcast games on Fridays and Saturdays. NFL games are blacked out locally on Fridays and Saturdays, thus essentially prohibiting the play (and broadcasting) of the games.

That means fall Saturdays, which is when college football games are played, are a no-go for the NFL until the college regular season wraps up. The same can be said on Fridays and the high school season.

With the college season ending in early December, that opens the door for the NFL to play games on Saturdays, like this upcoming weekend.

In short: The NFL can't play games on Fridays and Saturdays because of high school and college football.

In Week 16, it's a little bit different: Typically, there are three or four NFL games on a Saturday. With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, the majority of NFL's Week 16 slate will be played on Christmas Eve, with just three games being played on Sunday. The NFL tries to avoid heavy Christmas schedules if the holiday falls on a Saturday or a Sunday.

MORE: NFL power rankings — Where every team stands entering Week 16

NFL Saturday schedule 2022 Week 16

There are a total of 11 games to be played on Christmas Eve:

Game Kickoff time (ET) TV channel
Ravens vs. Falcons 1 p.m. Fox
Panthers vs. Lions 1 p.m. Fox
Bears vs. Bills 1 p.m. CBS
Browns vs. Saints 1 p.m. CBS
Chiefs vs. Seahawks 1 p.m. Fox
Vikings vs. Giants 1 p.m. Fox
Patriots vs. Bengals 1 p.m. CBS
Titans vs. Texans 1 p.m. CBS
49ers vs. Commanders 4:05 p.m. CBS
Cowboys vs. Eagles 4:25 p.m. Fox
Steelers vs. Raiders 8:15 p.m. NFLN

What channel are the NFL games on Saturday?

Saturday's slate is an all-day affair, with 11 games scheduled to be played all day, with local CBS and Fox affiliates getting involved. Fans who choose to live stream the games can opt for fuboTV, which offers a free trial in the U.S, Viewers are subject to local market games, however. 

Here's where you can catch each game:

Ravens vs. Falcons

Panthers vs. Lions

Bears vs. Bills

Browns vs. Saints

Chiefs vs. Seahawks

Vikings vs. Giants

Patriots vs. Bengals

Titans vs. Texans

49ers vs. Commanders

Cowboys vs. Eagles 

Steelers vs. Raiders

Joe Rivera

Joe Rivera Photo

Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

You can find him and tweet him @JoeRiveraSN, if you're into that sort of thing.