The NFL doesn't have quite the history of playing games on Christmas as it does with Thanksgiving, but there have been a number of notable moments to occur on the rare occasions — the last three seasons notwithstanding — that the league has played games on Dec. 25. Among those moments is one of the greatest playoff games in league history.
Epic Christmas Day NFL playoff game
In 1971, four teams featuring a combined 26 Pro Football Hall of Famers and two teams on a crash course for the Super Bowl played in the first NFL games played on Christmas Day. In the opener, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 20-12, at Metropolitan Stadium. The Vikings outgained the Cowboys, 311 to 183 yards, but committed five turnovers, dooming the home team to defeat.
