The NFL has released the details of its first-ever Black Friday game ahead of the full schedule release on Thursday. Let’s dive into all the details of the Black Friday game, which we’ll all be watching while eating Thanksgiving leftovers.
NFL Black Friday Game and Schedule
Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets
- Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: Amazon Prime Video
The first Black Friday NFL game will see a divisional clash between the Dolphins and the Jets. With Aaron Rodgers now in New York and the Dolphins looking set to push to challenge in the AFC this year, this game could have huge implications for the division and the conference playoff picture at large. Therefore, this Week 12 matchup could set either team up to make a run into the playoffs in the following weeks.
Why Does the NFL Play on Black Friday? History and More
While we’re all used to Thanksgiving Day football, this will be the first time the NFL has played a Black Friday game. Amazon and the NFL first announced a newly scheduled Black Friday game in October 2022.
“Thanksgiving is synonymous with football, and we’re excited to give our fans another day of NFL action during this holiday weekend,” said Hans Schroeder, Chief Operating Officer for NFL Media. “Amazon is uniquely positioned to partner with us for this game as Black Friday is one of the most important days of the year for their business.”
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At the time, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suggested that although there is no deal in place for a Black Friday game beyond 2023, the league typically doesn’t “do things for one year.”
“I would call that entire weekend a football weekend,” Goodell said. “We think there’s room for the NFL on Friday. We’re excited by it, we think it’s gonna be a great thing, and we’ll announce plans as we go.”
While this will mark the first Black Friday game in NFL history, it’s not the first time teams will play on a Friday. The Saints and Vikings squared off in a Friday Christmas Day game in 2020, while the Titans and Chargers did the same in 2009. In 2005, the Chiefs faced the Dolphins in a Friday game that had been rescheduled due to Hurricane Katrina.
How Many Games Are on Black Friday?
The NFL has scheduled only one game for Black Friday in 2023. However, nothing will prevent the league from adding more Black Friday games in the future.
For example, the NFL played two Thanksgiving Day games each season from 1970 through 2005 until adding a third contest in 2006. As the league continues its dominance and television networks request more games, the NFL could potentially place another Black Friday matchup (or two) on the schedule in the coming years.