Christmas football squares: boards for the NFL holiday games
Christmas Day football has gone from a novelty to a fixture, and in 2026 it lands on a Friday with three games: Green Bay at Chicago and Buffalo at Denver in the afternoon, then the Rams at Seattle in primetime. Houston at Philadelphia plays Christmas Eve. If the family is together anyway and the TV is on, a squares board gives everyone a reason to watch the fourth quarter.
The 2026 holiday games
- Thursday, December 24: Houston at Philadelphia (primetime)
- Friday, December 25: Green Bay at Chicago (afternoon)
- Friday, December 25: Buffalo at Denver (afternoon)
- Friday, December 25: Los Angeles Rams at Seattle (primetime)
These are Week 16 regular season games, so in Boxpick they are free to host with no board limit. The playoff boards that start three weeks later are the ones that move to Pro.
Make it a gift-swap board
Christmas is the easiest day of the year to run squares without money. Leave the price blank, and instead tie each quarter to something from the house: the Q1 winner picks the movie, Q2 opens the first present, Q3 gets the good chair, the final score winner is excused from dishes. Or do a real white elephant twist: everyone brings one wrapped gift, and quarter winners pick in order.
Set it up before the wrapping paper flies
Share the board links a week ahead so everyone claims squares before the chaos. Draw the numbers on Christmas Eve after the kids are in bed, or make it a Christmas morning event: Boxpick reveals the digits one at a time with an animation built for the big screen. Numbers are always drawn after the squares are claimed. See how numbers are drawn.
Nobody has to watch the score
The best part of a holiday board is that the host does not have to pay attention. Boxpick follows the live score and lights up the winning square at the end of every quarter on everyone's phone. If you are in the kitchen when the second quarter ends, you will still hear about it.
Relatives on FaceTime get squares too
The board link works from any phone, so the family members who could not travel can still claim squares and watch the same board. No download, no account. The virtual squares guide covers running a board across households.
After Christmas: the playoffs
Week 17 and 18 follow right after, then Wild Card weekend on January 16 to 18. A group that ran Christmas boards is warmed up for the postseason. The playoff squares guide has the plan for every round.
Does the NFL play on Christmas 2026?
Yes. Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday with three games: Green Bay at Chicago and Buffalo at Denver in the afternoon, and the Rams at Seattle in primetime. Houston at Philadelphia plays Christmas Eve night.
Are Christmas games regular season or playoffs?
Regular season. They fall in Week 16 of the 2026 schedule. That means Christmas boards are free to host in Boxpick with no limit, and joining is free for everyone.
How do you play squares without money at Christmas?
Leave the price blank and play for stakes that fit the day: the winner picks the Christmas movie, gets the last cookie, or skips cleanup. Kids can hold squares. The board works exactly the same either way.
Can I set up Christmas boards early?
Yes. The matchups are known from the start of the season, so the boards can go up as early as you like. Most groups share them a week ahead and draw the numbers on Christmas Eve.
Squares under the tree
Christmas games are regular season, so the boards are free to host. Set them up, share a link, and watch the winners light up.
