The NFL either gave Ravens fans an amazing gift or a lump of coal in their stocking this Christmas. If nothing else, the league provided some major evening entertainment around Baltimore.
The Ravens will spend Christmas in their rival's house in Pittsburgh this year. They'll face off at 4:30 p.m. in Week 16.
It's the first time since 2011 that Christmas has fallen on a Sunday. All the Sunday games have been moved to Saturday with two exceptions: Ravens-Steelers at 4:30 p.m. and Broncos-Chiefs at 8:30 p.m.
The last time the Ravens played on Christmas was in 2005 when they were the primetime game. Baltimore beat Minnesota, 30-23, at M&T Bank Stadium. Quarterback Kyle Boller threw three touchdowns that night.
While the Christmas contest will be featured for a national audience, the Ravens have just two primetime games this season after five were slated for last year. That's the team's fewest since 2006.
Baltimore's 5-11 record certainly played a part in that. The Ravens' final two primetime games last year were both flexed out of the night slot.
The Ravens' first primetime game will be in Week 10 on Thursday Night Football against the Browns. Baltimore will be coming off a black-and-blue contest against the Steelers the week before.
The other primetime game will be on Monday Night Football in New England in Week 14. It will be the 10th road Monday Night Football game for the Ravens during Head Coach John Harbaugh's tenure (since 2008). Much to Harbaugh's displeasure, Baltimore has hosted MNF just once during that span.
After just half of the Ravens' 16 regular-season games last year were originally slated for 1 p.m., a whopping 13 are scheduled to kick off at the standard afternoon time this year.
The Ravens will also not travel nearly as far this season. They had four West Coast games last year, but will only once play outside of the Eastern Time zone this season (in Dallas, Week 11).
