The NFL featured three regular-season games on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, when Christmas Day fell midweek, including a primetime matchup between NFC West rivals the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.[1]
The Los Angeles Rams, who entered Week 16 with a 9-5 record atop the NFC West standings, hosted the 6-8 San Francisco 49ers in the 8:15 p.m. ET Netflix game.[1][2] The teams are longtime division foes with the 49ers holding a 38-31-1 all-time edge in the series.[3] SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2020 and has a seating capacity of 70,240, serves as home for both the Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.[4]
This Wednesday tripleheader marked a rare midweek scheduling choice for the league, following a Week 1 Friday night international game in Brazil on September 6, when the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-28 at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo.[5] The NFL announced a second regular-season contest in Brazil for Friday, September 5, 2025, during Week 1, with teams still to be determined.[6]
The last time an NFL season opened on a Wednesday was September 5, 2012, when the New York Giants hosted the Dallas Cowboys. That game was shifted from Thursday due to President Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention.[7]
The Rams hold international home marketing rights in Australia and New Zealand, supporting the league's global growth efforts.[8]
Sources
- NFL.com
2024 NFL Schedule - Week 16
Accessed December 2024
https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2024/WEEK16/ - NFL.com
League Standings
Accessed December 2024
https://www.nfl.com/standings/ - Pro-Football-Reference.com
San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Head-to-Head
Accessed December 2024
https://www.profootballreference.com/teams/sfo/head2head.htm - NFL.com
SoFi Stadium Venue Page
Accessed December 2024
https://www.nfl.com/venues/sofi-stadium/ - NFL.com
Eagles 34-28 Packers: Final Score
September 7, 2024
https://www.nfl.com/news/eagles-vs-packers-score-live-updates-highlights-from-nfl-s-first-game-in-brazil - NFL.com
NFL's second game in Brazil set for Week 1 Friday in 2025
October 15, 2024
https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-second-game-in-brazil-set-for-week-1-friday-in-2025 - NFL.com
Cowboys-Giants opener moved to Wednesday
August 31, 2012
https://www.nfl.com/news/cowboys-giants-opener-moved-to-wednesday-09000d5d820b5b5e - Los Angeles Rams Official Site
Rams Announce International Home Marketing Rights Agreement for Australia & New Zealand
February 28, 2023
https://www.therams.com/news/rams-announce-international-home-marketing-rights-agreement-for-australia-new-zealand
