Nfl Christmas Day Scores
As the NFL schedule didn’t even run into December for the longest time, it took the league more than 50 years to hold a game on Christmas Day. The first time it happened was in 1971 and there were actually two games on December 25 that year, both divisional round playoff games. The first game saw the eventual Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys defeat the Minnesota Vikings on the NFC side of the bracket, which was followed by an AFC playoff matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs.
And what a matchup it was.
In what at the time was just the second double-overtime game in NFL playoff history, the Dolphins and Chiefs went back and forth all game long that muddy Christmas Day in Kansas City with Miami finally coming out on top in what is still the longest game in NFL history.
- Here is a look at all Christmas Day games over the years since the first was played in 1971. Cowboys 2019 Official New Era NFL Youth Sideline Home 1960 Hat.
- Christmas Day and Christmas Eve games in the National Football League are an occasional Season, Visiting Team, Score, Home Team, TV. 1971 Dallas Liverpool score six, Man United concede six in Dec 21, 2020 Maybe all the goalkeepers enjoyed their Christmas too much Blackpool 1-5 Chelsea Dave Durie scored for the home side, but Chelsea were.
There have been six double-overtime games in NFL playoff history
There is the potential for a Christmas Day NFL game from 2020 until 2023, as Christmas falls on Friday through Monday during that time. The first games played on Christmas Day were back in 1971. The 1971 divisional round of the playoffs had the first two games scheduled for Christmas. Christmas Day results for NFL 'Noles in Saints vs. Vikings By Chris Nee Dec 26, 8:35 AM 1 The New Orleans Saints defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 52-33, in a Christmas Day matchup.
Before we get to the details of that 1971 Christmas Day matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, let’s take a quick look at the other five NFL playoff games that went into double overtime. Obviously, this isn’t a common occurrence in the league as regular-season games can actually end in a tie. So it’s always a treat to get double-extra football, at least for fans anyway.
- December 23, 1962: Dallas Texans-20, Houston Oilers-17 — the game ended 2:54 into the second overtime
- December 24, 1977: Oakland Raiders-37, Baltimore Colts-31 — the game ended 43 seconds into the second overtime
- January 3, 1987: Cleveland Browns-23, New York Jets-20 — the game ended 2:02 into the second overtime
- January 10, 2004: Carolina Panthers-29, St. Louis Rams-23 — the game ended 10 seconds into the second overtime
- January 12, 2013: Baltimore Ravens-38, Denver Broncos-35 — the game ended 1:42 into the second overtime
The Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs played the longest game in NFL history on Christmas Day in 1971
At the end of the 1971 NFL regular season, both the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs had 10-3-1 records, which were good enough to give both teams a division title.
The two teams matched up in the second-ever Christmas Day NFL game on December 25, 1971, at Kansas City Municipal Stadium (the Chiefs moved to Arrowhead the following season) and it was an unseasonably warm day with temperatures in the 60s. It was also a very muddy day, which certainly made for some entertaining football.
The Chiefs jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter behind a Jan Stenerud 24-yard field goal and a seven-yard touchdown pass from Len Dawson to Ed Podolak. But the Dolphins scored 10 points of their own in the second quarter, a one-yard TD run from Larry Csonka and a 14-yard field goal from Garo Yepremian, to tie the game heading into halftime.
Kansas City struck first in the third quarter on a one-yard touchdown run from Jim Otis but the Dolphins came right back to tie on a one-yard TD run of their own from Jim Kiick. The Chiefs took another seven-point lead in the fourth quarter on a three-yard TD run from Podolak but the Dolphins again came right back and tied it up on a five-yard touchdown pass from Bob Griese to Marv Fleming.
With 35 seconds to play, the Chiefs had a chance to take a three-point lead but Stenerud missed a 31-yard field goal, his second miss of the day, sending the game into overtime. After both teams missed kicks in the first overtime period, Yepremian finally ended things 7:40 into the second overtime, hitting a 37-yard field goal to give Miami a 27-24 win and a trip to the AFC Championship Game.
At 82:40, that Christmas Day classic remains the longest game in NFL history.
The Dolphins and Chiefs have each played two Christmas Day games since then
RELATED: Does the NFL Always Play Games on Christmas?
Since that classic battle on Christmas Day in 1971, both the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs have played two more games on December 25. The Dolphins defeated the Detroit Lions, 27-20, in 1994 and lost to the New York Jets, 13-10, in 2006.
The Chiefs played their next Christmas Day game in 2004, edging out the Oakland Raiders, 31-30, and then defeated the Denver Broncos, 33-10, in 2016.
Stats and scores courtesy of Pro Football Reference
NEW ORLEANS -- — Alvin Kamara expects a fine for wearing a pair of Christmas-themed shoes that, as it turned out, would also be worthy of a Hall of Fame display.
With a red shoe on his right foot and a green one on his left, Kamara tied an NFL record set in 1929 by running for six touchdowns in a game. He finished with a career-high 155 yards rushing to help New Orleans beat the Minnesota Vikings 52-33 on Friday and clinch a fourth straight NFC South title.
“It just feels good to have one of those days, just for the team,” Kamara said, showering credit on the offensive line and insisting that he did “the small part.”
“I’m not focused on personal, like, goals and yards and stuff like that,' Kamara continued. 'As long as the team has success, then personal success will come.”
And it has come all season for Kamara, who during training camp signed a five-year contract worth up to $75 million. He has since set Saints records for rushing TDs in a season with 16 and total TDs with 21 (he has five receiving).
As for wearing shoes that didn't conform to the NFL's uniform codes, Kamara said, “If they fine me, whatever it is, I’ll just match it and donate to charity. You know, the Grinch always tries to steal Christmas.”
Is Nfl On Christmas Day
Kamara slipped a couple tackle attempts and then sprinted into the clear for a 40-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive. He added scoring runs of 1, 5, 6, 7 and 3 yards against a Minnesota defensive front hit hard by injuries, and equaled Hall of Fame fullback Ernie Nevers' achievement.
Minnesota (6-9) was eliminated from playoff contention while allowing the most points by any Vikings team since 1963.
“They just mashed us up front,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said, calling his defense 'the worst one I've ever had' as a coach. 'We couldn’t slow them down. It would be 8-yard gain, 7-yard gain.”
The Saints (11-4) never punted, and set a record of yards gained in a game by a Vikings opponent with 583.
Saints coach Sean Payton said it felt like a CFL game, with many first-down conversions coming before New Orleans even got to third down. The Saints might have won by a greater margin if not for two interceptions of Drew Brees, one of them on a pass that deflected off receiver Emmanuel Sanders' hands.
Is There A Nfl Game On Christmas Day 2019
Brees completed 19 of 26 throws for 311 yards in his second game back from rib and lung injuries that had sidelined him for four games.
Sanders had four catches for 83 yards, while tight end Jared Cook caught three passes for 82 yards. New Orleans' 264 yards rushing were the most by a Vikings opponent in Zimmer's seven seasons.
New Orleans native Irv Smith Jr. caught a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter for the Vikings, the second pulling Minnesota to 31-27. But the Saints responded with two short touchdown runs by Kamara and one by reserve QB Taysom Hill in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Kirk Cousins passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns for the Vikings, who never led and trailed for good after Kamara's second TD in the first quarter.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Kamara equaled a record Nevers set for the Cardinals way back when they called Chicago home.
“It was awesome,” Brees said. “Six touchdowns for a running back is just astounding.”
Saints players celebrated the last TD by pretending to make snow angels on the Superdome turf, which center Erik McCoy planned during the final drive as something that stuck with the Christmas theme.
Payton, who spent part of his youth in the Chicago area, was thinking about Gale Sayers’ six-TD game (four rushing touchdowns, one TD catch, one punt return) against San Francisco in 1965 when he called the play that led to Kamara’s sixth TD with just less than two minutes left.
“I’d say most of these players have no idea how good Gale Sayers was,” Payton said, adding that Kamara’s TD total “was a big deal. He played fantastic.”
MOMENTUM PLAY
In a game that saw both defenses struggle, Saints receiver Marquez Callaway made a play that any defensive back would appreciate when he prevented Eric Wilson from intercepting a pass Brees threw right at the linebacker. With a second chance, Brees hit Callaway for 11 yards on the next play and then found Cook 19 yards to the Vikings 6. That set up Kamara's third TD run of the half to put New Orleans up 24-14.
INJURIES
Vikings: Minnesota did not report any injuries.
Nfl Christmas Day Scores 2020
Saints: LB Kwon Alexander injured his right ankle late in the third quarter. He was initially helped off the field but later took a cart from the sideline to the locker room.
UP NEXT
Vikings: visit Detroit on Jan. 3, the final Sunday of the regular season.
Nfl Christmas Day Results
Saints: visit Carolina on Jan. 3.
Is There A Nfl Game On Christmas Day
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