<P> After the NFL held two Divisional Playoff games on Christmas Day 1971 , the league avoided any more games on Christmas Day until 1989 . Since then , the NFL has held occasional games on Christmas Day in some years , as part of week 16 or 17 of the regular season . Two games were played each Christmas Day from 2004 to 2006 and then from 2016 to 2017 . </P>
<P> After the NFL held two Divisional Playoff games on Christmas Day 1971 , the league avoided any more games on Christmas Day until 1989 . Since then , the NFL has held occasional games on Christmas Day in some years , as part of week 16 or 17 of the regular season . Two games were played each Christmas Day from 2004 to 2006 and then from 2016 to 2017 . </P>
when did the nfl start playing on christmas day
when did the nfl start playing on christmas day
1971
1971