The NFL will play a game the night before Thanksgiving for the first time, with the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix. Both teams were forced to sacrifice their bye week, leaving the Rams with only 10 days off between games.
Kelly Stafford, wife of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, criticized the league on Instagram, questioning why the Rams are the only team without a true bye week. She noted that after 18 years around the league, even she needs a week off during the season.
The Rams' schedule shows a Sunday game at the Cardinals on Nov. 15, a bye week on Nov. 22, the Wednesday game against the Packers on Nov. 25, and a Thursday night game against the Chiefs on Dec. 3. The Packers have a slightly more favorable stretch, playing the Vikings on Nov. 15, a bye on Nov. 22, the Wednesday game at the Rams, and a Sunday game at the Saints on Dec. 6.
The Rams also have a Friday game against the Seahawks on Christmas Day and are scheduled to travel more than 34,000 miles this season, the second-most in the NFL. If they play a Saturday game later in the season, they would become only the fourth team in 99 years to play on six different days of the week in a single season.
Despite the scheduling disadvantage, the Rams will be home for Thanksgiving, allowing players to spend the holiday weekend with their families.
