NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
On paper, Netflix had some great divisional matchups. Christmas The day of the 17th week when the season began.
Certainly, NFL The season never goes according to plan, and the three matches scheduled for the holiday didn't turn out to be what anyone had planned.
Cause? Star guards won't play in every game.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS RESOURCES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott walks off the field after the team's NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, September 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The first kickoff of Christmas will be an NFC East battle between Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders, both teams already eliminated from playoff contention.
And while Dak Prescott and company look to finish the season strong, the Commanders shut down Jaden Daniels, their sophomore quarterback who led them to the NFC Championship Game in his rookie season just a year ago, after he re-aggravated his elbow injury.
In fact, the Commanders won't even see Marcus Mariota, Daniels' backup who has had to start eight games this season as he, too, is dealing with an injury. It will be veteran Josh Johnson who will start in Landover, Maryland, on Christmas Day as part of a 4-11 Commander team that was hoping to at least make the playoffs after a fantastic finish in 2024.
CHIEFS ANNOUNCES MOVE TO KANSAS FOR 2031 NFL SEASON WITH NEW STADIUM DOME
“When you look around these matches, that’s what you’re thinking: It’s going to be awesome. The way it all works is the division games right here at the end between the two Philadelphia games, with the Dallas game in between,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said.
“Playing in these division games still means a lot.”
Unfortunately for both teams, this will be nothing more than bragging rights.
Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders watches from the sidelines after leaving the game in the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)
At 4:30 pm ET, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, a legendary NFC North rivalry, will see the home team in Minneapolis be without their second-year starter, J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy was injured in last week's win over the New York Giants, and Max Brosmer will have to start again for Kevin O'Connell's team.
The Minnesota product's first career start didn't go well in Seattle as the Seahawks were able to defend against Brosmer. Perhaps the home fans will make the offense better for him and the Vikings, but at least the Lions still have something to play for.
Detroit comes into this game off the back of a tough loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the game-winning touchdown was called back after Amon-Ra St. Brown was penalized for offensive pass interference, denying Jared Goff the opportunity to fly into the end zone after a pass from the star receiver.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes chews a mouth guard during warmups before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, November 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)
The Lions need to win their remaining two games and also need the Green Bay Packers to lose their final two games to secure the last spot in the NFC.
Finally, and perhaps the biggest disappointment for Netflix, the Kansas City Chiefs don't have Patrick Mahomes on the field this holiday season.
Mahomes suffered a torn ACL that he quickly had surgery to repair following the loss that knocked them out of playoff contention two weeks ago. The Chiefs had hoped backup Gardner Minshew could see out the season, but he tore his ACL in a loss to the Tennessee Titans last week.
Combine FOX One and FOX Nation to stream the entire FOX Nation library, plus live FOX news, sports and entertainment for the lowest price of the year. Offer ends January 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
That leaves USF alumnus Chris Oladokun, who replaced Minshew last week, in the starting lineup against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos, a 12-3 team that has already clinched a playoff spot. Denver will still be playing hard as they compete for the top overall seed in the AFC, which will ensure home games throughout the playoffs.
These games were set to be potential divisional and playoff deciders, but the NFL and its fans will be hoping these games aren't as lopsided as some believe they may turn out to be.
Follow Fox News Digital sports reporting on X and subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
