With the summer warmth just beginning to welcome us, the 2023 NFL season lies on the horizon. However, it’s never too early to start looking ahead to the intriguing matchups of the forthcoming campaign.
In particular, the NFL’s Christmas Day triple-header promises to bring an exciting day of football.
Let’s delve into each of the NFL Christmas Day games from a betting perspective.
NFL betting odds used for these NFL Christmas predictions are current as of Friday, May 26, at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Christmas NFL Games
Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs (1 p.m. ET)
Raiders +8.5 (-110) @ Chiefs -8.5 (-110)
The festive fixtures kick off with an AFC West rivalry that dates back to the AFL days. The Raiders, now of Las Vegas, will visit the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs have been a dominant force in the AFC over the past half-decade, especially at Arrowhead Stadium, and have won 10 of their last 11 games (including five straight) against the rival Raiders.
Kansas City star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has often been a festive nightmare for the Raiders’ secondary, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the 2022 NFL MVP put up big numbers in a primetime spot.
Las Vegas will likely take a step back in 2023 with Jimmy Garoppolo under center, so I’d lean toward backing the Chiefs on this large spread.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles (4:30 p.m. ET)
Giants +7 (-110) @ Eagles -7 (-110)
Next, we shift our focus to the NFC East, where the New York Giants take on the Philadelphia Eagles in a city where even Santa Claus isn’t safe from being booed.
However, Eagles fans should have plenty to cheer about this Christmas as the home team will be a significant favorite in this encounter.
Philadelphia is well positioned to capitalize on the momentum from its run to the Super Bowl, boasting a highly-skilled offense and a stout defense that is a constant headache for opposing teams.
The Giants were run out of Philadelphia in the divisional round last January, losing 38-7 to their NFC East rivals. Quarterback Daniel Jones and Co. will be looking to avenge that defeat in the first of two late-season meetings between the two teams.
New York will need to pull something special out of its stocking to upset the Eagles in their backyard on Christmas Day, but covering this seven-point spread isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Baltimore Ravens @ San Francisco 49ers (8:15 p.m. ET)
Ravens +3 (-110) @ 49ers -3 (-110)
The final of the NFL’s Christmas Day games will see the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowl 47.
This matchup screams intensity and hard-hitting football. The Ravens, buoyed by the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson, should be amongst the top AFC contenders this season.
Meanwhile, the Niners have been perennial contenders in the NFC thanks to a load of talented skill-position players and a dominant defense that can wreak havoc on the best offensive lines in the league.
The deciding factor will likely be the 49ers’ ability to contain Jackson. If they can limit his dual-threat capability, they should win this game at home.