Thanksgiving and football are synonymous with one another.
Christmas and football? Not so much.
I was quite surprised to learn that the Eagles have only played twice on Christmas. And one of those games was last season.
There actually have not been a lot of NFL games on Christmas. The first two contests were playoff matchups in 1971, a year after the AFL-NFL merger. There was such a public outcry over playing games on the holiday that the NFL avoided Christmas at all cost.
In 1989, the league experimented with a prime-time Christmas matchup between the Bengals and the Vikings. The kickoff was after 9 p.m. on the East Coast to avoid any potential family conflicts. Four years later, Christmas games were worked into the schedule, but even if the holiday falls on a Sunday, there will only be a game or two. In 2011, the Bears and the Packers played on Christmas while the vast majority of the action on Saturday. Two games were held on Christmas in 2016, but again, the rest of the contests were moved to Saturday except for the Thursday and Monday night matchups.
Here is a quick look at the Eagles' perfect 2-0 record on Christmas.
![Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jeff Garcia (7) sticks out his tongue as he runs off the field after the the Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys 23-7, in their NFL football game in Irving, Texas, Monday, Dec. 25, 2006. With four straight wins, including three in a row on the road, the resilient Eagles are on the verge of winning the NFC East title without two fo their best players _ Donovan McNabb and Jevon Kearse. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_mobile/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/aboclyrgxxsa0xgzpa2g.jpg)
2006: Eagles 23, Cowboys 7
"Merry Christmas, Philadelphia."
Those were the words from quarterback Jeff Garcia as he ran off the field at Texas Stadium in Irving following the NFC East-clinching victory.
The Eagles were 5-6 at the end of November following a crushing 45-21 loss on the road against Indianapolis in Garcia's first start for the Eagles following Donovan McNabb's season-ending knee injury.
Garcia, who would carry the popular movie, Invincible, with him on road trips, rallied the Eagles to wins over Carolina, Washington, and Giants before the holiday showdown against Dallas.
The quarterback was efficient, completing 15 of 23 passes for 238 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Brian Westbrook paced the ground game with 122 yards. The defense was outstanding limiting Tony Romo to 142 passing yards and forcing a pair of interceptions. Romo also happened to be the Cowboys' leading rusher on the day.
The Eagles never trailed as they got a first-quarter touchdown on a Matt Schobel 25-yard reception from Garcia. The Cowboys made it 10-7 in the second quarter, but a pair of David Akers field goals extended the Eagles' lead to 16-7 early in the third quarter. Correll Buckhalter put the game away with a 1-yard scoring run to cap off a 12-play, 80-yard drive with just 6:54 left.
2017: Eagles 19, Raiders 10
This one is a little fresher in the minds of Eagles fans.
The Eagles had already clinched the NFC East, but this victory was important because it secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Oakland was out of the playoff picture, but made it tough for the Eagles behind 95 rushing yards by Marshawn Lynch and a 63-yard touchdown from Amari Cooper, offering a glimpse of what was to come in 2018. The Raiders led the game 10-7 in the third quarter.
A wild sequence of three straight drives in the game ending with a turnover eventually resulted in the first of two Jake Elliott field goals that would give the Eagles a 13-10 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles put the game and the Raiders away when Derek Barnett returned a fumble, the Raiders' fifth turnover of the game, for a 23-yard touchdown as time expired.
The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Oakland Raiders, 19-10. This win clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
![Lincoln Financial Field](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/isdv93bbceah9y7mqus9.jpg)
Lincoln Financial Field
![Lincoln Financial Field](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/ujdmpudksyfpt5otegcd.jpg)
Lincoln Financial Field
![Lincoln Financial Field](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/obrlmgcfvavgdg8ofq5u.jpg)
Lincoln Financial Field
![S Corey Graham](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/xdmkuxhokrj56a625htn.jpg)
S Corey Graham
![WR Mack Hollins](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/gph7ihafpkd7umbhf8rj.jpg)
WR Mack Hollins
![TE Zach Ertz and TE Brent Celek](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/dvteteapkvikfjggjmvy.jpg)
TE Zach Ertz and TE Brent Celek
![S Rodney McLeod](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/itdkrkdi8avt3e0pg9u2.jpg)
S Rodney McLeod
![DT Beau Allen](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/j09kxg8sqprzktdgse8z.jpg)
DT Beau Allen
![Congratulations to Trent Cole who signed a ceremonial contract to officially retire as an Eagle tonight](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/mdjxavsgqntvajvfgchn.jpg)
Congratulations to Trent Cole who signed a ceremonial contract to officially retire as an Eagle tonight
![SWOOP keeping the fans warm tonight](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/jqecgsdgs7pvnzbyuud8.jpg)
SWOOP keeping the fans warm tonight
![A reindeer visited HeadHouse Plaza for the holiday](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/km3zvsbauitm5tizmqpd.jpg)
A reindeer visited HeadHouse Plaza for the holiday
![Fans on the sideline before the game](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/uyqmnr2abaluu6ftbkym.jpg)
Fans on the sideline before the game
![QB Carson Wentz](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/frjvsf51jh83dfjvyvcs.jpg)
QB Carson Wentz
![Pregame action](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/qfc83ywzigxyaeyer9v7.jpg)
Pregame action
![LB Dannell Ellerbe](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/lxhbcfa6jxxymoy6kewo.jpg)
LB Dannell Ellerbe
![DE Brandon Graham](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/t5g3nnj7qtvhalvb3g3d.jpg)
DE Brandon Graham
![CB Jalen Mills](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/gabv0qur5gyvceifdbom.jpg)
CB Jalen Mills
![RB Kenjon Barner](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/pnoszradqtivwei9sbpu.jpg)
RB Kenjon Barner
![Running back huddle](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/ogwb7zvulivyvcgofi2b.jpg)
Running back huddle
![QB Nick Foles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/uszsk1prpqqelant3soi.jpg)
QB Nick Foles
![DE Brandon Graham](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/ansigc8bdp87ua3zdrdm.jpg)
DE Brandon Graham
![DE Chris Long](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/hswzymqm3ahixsd3iynb.jpg)
DE Chris Long
!["We all we got, we all we need!"](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/wkrrhysooqzhlkm6s5v8.jpg)
"We all we got, we all we need!"
![Fireworks on full display](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/tbkjowxfmgzjqvsms4nl.jpg)
Fireworks on full display
![Trying to stay warm in HeadHouse Plaza](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/hfklml5hsol7xgtxjlcl.jpg)
Trying to stay warm in HeadHouse Plaza
![Laser focused](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/zmqs1n2gvflxuiq47ovt.jpg)
Laser focused
![QB Nick Foles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/jvaxweqwohiuy6xlexl2.jpg)
QB Nick Foles
![WR Alshon Jeffery](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/smi6cvl3k6n93qscqmnq.jpg)
WR Alshon Jeffery
![Eagles captains](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/yw5q3yccr1yqxmijxel4.jpg)
Eagles captains
![RB Jay Ajayi](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/puxnbsujaolkxd9ps88c.jpg)
RB Jay Ajayi
![RB Jay Ajayi](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/lnzbts7mhpn9v1b7sf5z.jpg)
RB Jay Ajayi
![RB Jay Ajayi](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/nwk5bcptdpwgq5mwy6wy.jpg)
RB Jay Ajayi
![WR Torrey Smith](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/moxug6qljjtqtqxls4eg.jpg)
WR Torrey Smith
![RB Jay Ajayi](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/eqqyraeuhmf93fvhm8tb.jpg)
RB Jay Ajayi
![QB Nick Foles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/eaiemi8f5pnfcp6pslu0.jpg)
QB Nick Foles
![QB Nick Foles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/xkzcemdhejabmvoe7egm.jpg)
QB Nick Foles
![Fly Eagles Fly](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/vra0tcdneitaxxsi5m7i.jpg)
Fly Eagles Fly
![CB Rasul Douglas](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/ahbgmkj6ihyd79yepjal.jpg)
CB Rasul Douglas
![TE Brent Celek](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/fmj9gbxlzcmllsshjae0.jpg)
TE Brent Celek
![Head Coach Doug Pederson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/eflrdbesxc49pfye2ry6.jpg)
Head Coach Doug Pederson
![Passion](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/bcugoedxcabhimia2vs0.jpg)
Passion
![TE Zach Ertz](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/pnarsnbwpvqlly3eyixa.jpg)
TE Zach Ertz
![QB Nick Foles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/xs7iqewc2bnnbtho7miw.jpg)
QB Nick Foles
![TE Zach Ertz](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/nsejtoecpdsgl9hp6bks.jpg)
TE Zach Ertz
![DE Brandon Graham](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/cgpobybstr5njr5mznwo.jpg)
DE Brandon Graham
![Hats to the ball](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/hm4y9fmrfeg3kzjxulro.jpg)
Hats to the ball
![DE Chris Long](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/fpua8gmpo3ndgonn5m6m.jpg)
DE Chris Long
![DE Brandon Graham](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/estiwalac9m8hlfw6fin.jpg)
DE Brandon Graham
![Eagles Drumline](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/yfg6zgbuvjo9uvolsxxm.jpg)
Eagles Drumline
![S Malcolm Jenkins and CB Jalen Mills](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/ijaf21q6kozmnf6scvjx.jpg)
S Malcolm Jenkins and CB Jalen Mills
![TE Zach Ertz](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/pp5duknqjh4xo6byeilh.jpg)
TE Zach Ertz
![TE Brent Celek](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/ceazbvy0fnhor4gtpytv.jpg)
TE Brent Celek
![QB Nick Foles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/pyyv5dvbwcoyqzjanxcy.jpg)
QB Nick Foles
![DE Vinny Curry](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/pk00yaeh7cr7zwqgz4o0.jpg)
DE Vinny Curry
![CB Patrick Robinson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/cbo3detccjsi7tt9dmik.jpg)
CB Patrick Robinson
![CB Patrick Robinson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/xsunzsmnqqf24kmqdsfj.jpg)
CB Patrick Robinson
![DE Vinny Curry](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/gkakm01xueus8mr7ipui.jpg)
DE Vinny Curry
![S Rodney McLeod](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/we9cwxrthacq4aehjokw.jpg)
S Rodney McLeod
![DE Chris Long and LB Dannell Ellerbe](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/qnvifwcd2zhh6xj0zcot.jpg)
DE Chris Long and LB Dannell Ellerbe
![LB Dannell Ellerbe](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/r3i9aetpa76j6dgvmsdg.jpg)
LB Dannell Ellerbe
![DT Tim Jernigan](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/nc6fps0bmknqfo19jdkn.jpg)
DT Tim Jernigan
![CB Jalen Mills](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/xkl8l4fz0idpaq2d47vf.jpg)
CB Jalen Mills
![CB Jalen Mills and S Rodney McLeod](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/kiu5grfrcvgmn3fgskdq.jpg)
CB Jalen Mills and S Rodney McLeod
![DT Tim Jernigan](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/tqvh88glv1lvwxocyn0v.jpg)
DT Tim Jernigan
![BackInBlack](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/gtabotbda38doezny4sw.jpg)
BackInBlack
![DT Fletcher Cox](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/r7ohbfwbtqjlkcdei59y.jpg)
DT Fletcher Cox
![QB Nick Foles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/vy3fg6xee3uidoigfoxj.jpg)
QB Nick Foles
![DE Chris Long](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/zy2se96abxr5scubpnhv.jpg)
DE Chris Long
![S Malcolm Jenkins](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/tormmciwv4z9egvge6lc.jpg)
S Malcolm Jenkins
![LB Nigel Bradham](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/rerntasf0phhf0leeozv.jpg)
LB Nigel Bradham
![S Malcolm Jenkins](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/rifeggjbfysrcbyilcpm.jpg)
S Malcolm Jenkins
![S Malcolm Jenkins](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/x9v4rvzyvsnmv6kesgnu.jpg)
S Malcolm Jenkins
![LB Mychal Kendricks](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/wasimzqeaz31uzmqpnnt.jpg)
LB Mychal Kendricks
![CB Ronald Darby](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/l6x1ubmdczouuij4dau6.jpg)
CB Ronald Darby
![CB Ronald Darby and S Rodney McLeod](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/qglxogoauene8hxaswjr.jpg)
CB Ronald Darby and S Rodney McLeod
![CB Ronald Darby](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/a76u6orffonzlkitoefq.jpg)
CB Ronald Darby
![K Jake Elliott](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/ewrhcw3jt8taolwtd9fz.jpg)
K Jake Elliott
![P Donnie Jones and K Jake Elliott](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/qbsshktechchglbuzy11.jpg)
P Donnie Jones and K Jake Elliott
![RB Jay Ajayi](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/vvev36arhzb3zuhnovlt.jpg)
RB Jay Ajayi
![TE Brent Celek](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/tes8yg3jblqq4kfdodkl.jpg)
TE Brent Celek
![RB LeGarrette Blount](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/nmhituf9czhpwib8ykfc.jpg)
RB LeGarrette Blount
![RB LeGarrette Blount](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/tlfsj4vrjtzalspxpiks.jpg)
RB LeGarrette Blount
![DT Tim Jernigan](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/h3srwjmdjukmzeftiqgr.jpg)
DT Tim Jernigan
![QB Nick Foles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/lkvnyg6q39xpau96aupj.jpg)
QB Nick Foles
![S Rodney McLeod](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/ewbufq5m0qod7rkculxi.jpg)
S Rodney McLeod
![CB Ronald Darby, DT Fletcher Cox, and CB Rasul Douglas](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/hy0omb73kp72o1roi5dl.jpg)
CB Ronald Darby, DT Fletcher Cox, and CB Rasul Douglas
![TE Brent Celek](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/smu9kgdjmgciisrgrnju.jpg)
TE Brent Celek
![DE Chris Long](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/eagles/quvwmjg9zg5m8i5lzdmw.jpg)
DE Chris Long