Wednesdays have been off-limits for the NFL for most of its history. This was true for Christmas Day for decades.

The NFL is always looking for an opportunity and found it when Christmas Day fell on a Wednesday this season. In the league, four teams played on Saturday of Week 16 and then changed opponents at Christmas. So they had the same rest period as teams playing on Thursday night after a Sunday game. Netflix financed the broadcast of the games. And so it happened that on Christmas, on a Wednesday, we saw a double football game.

When the Kansas City Chiefs play the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens play the Houston Texans, the number of games the NFL has played on a Wednesday since 1948 will double. In 2012, the NFL scheduled its season opener between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys on a Wednesday to avoid competing with the Democratic National Convention. In 2020, the NFL had to postpone a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ravens to Wednesday due to COVID-19. Those are the NFL’s only two Wednesday games in the last 76 years. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday games will not become the norm for the NFL, although that “will be the case if Christmas falls on a Wednesday.”

Prior to 1989, the NFL only played two playoff games on Christmas in 1971. The NFL adjusted its schedule when Christmas fell on a Sunday to avoid holding games on that day. Then there was a Christmas match in 1989, further singles matches in 1993, 1994 and 1995, again in 1999 and 2000 and then a doubles match in 2004.

After that, the NFL stopped avoiding games on Christmas. However, if the holiday falls on a Sunday, the NFL will move most games to Saturday. In the first 84 NFL seasons, only eight games were played on Christmas. In total, there have only been 30 games on Christmas in NFL history. That’s what makes this year’s games so unique, as the league goes all out to schedule a Christmas doubleheader on a Wednesday. It seems like it will happen again in 2030, when Christmas next falls on a Wednesday.

It’s hard to say months in advance which matchups will be significant in Week 17, but the NFL has done well in its Christmas games, picking two games involving four AFC playoff teams. We also take a look at how Netflix is ​​handling streaming of the games, which became an issue after problems during the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, which attracted a large audience.

Here’s a preview of each of the two Christmas games.

Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

1 p.m. ET, Netflix

What is at stake: There is a lot to gain for each team, even if their playoff spots are secure.

The Chiefs can secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win. They lead the Buffalo Bills in the race by two games. A loss to the Steelers would keep Buffalo alive in the battle for the No. 1 seed, as the Bills have the direct tiebreaker against Kansas City. A 15th win would also tie the Chiefs’ single-season record.

The Steelers could have clinched the AFC North with a win on Saturday, but a loss to the Ravens puts them under pressure. Pittsburgh will still win the division if it wins its final two games. A loss in either game would give the Ravens a chance to win the division.

The background: The Chiefs have been one of the top stories this season, and not just because of their pursuit of a historic third straight Super Bowl victory. They have an unprecedented winning streak in one-score games. The Chiefs won their 16th straight game decided by a score last week, extending their NFL record. Kansas City has been winning in uncharacteristic fashion all season and is poised for a win (or a Bills loss) if it has the best record in the AFC.

Pittsburgh is the surprising success story among the four Christmas teams. There were questions about the Steelers before the season, but a strong defense and the resurgence of Russell Wilson have helped them to double-digit wins and a playoff spot. Wilson is coming off a game with two turnovers and has struggled without No. 1 receiver George Pickens, who has missed three games with a hamstring injury. Pickens has a chance to return this week, which would be a big help to the offense.

Baltimore Ravens (10-5) vs. Houston Texans (9-6)

4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix

What is at stake: The Ravens stayed on their way to the AFC North title with a win over the Steelers last week. An early game loss by the Steelers would give Baltimore control of the division.

Of the four teams playing on Christmas, the Texans have the least at stake. They have already won the AFC South and will most likely be the No. 4 seed, although there is a chance of moving up to the No. 3 seed by the end of the season. Still, they want to gain some momentum before heading into the playoffs after last week’s loss to the Chiefs.

The background: The Ravens have more to worry about than Lamar Jackson’s MVP fall, but that’s also part of the story for Wednesday’s game. Josh Allen is leading the MVP race but didn’t have a great day in Week 16 against the New England Patriots. Jackson’s stats are comparable to Allen’s and in some ways better. A big game from Jackson against a good Texas defense on a big stage could change the fortunes of the MVP race. Jackson has already won two MVPs and a third isn’t out of the question.

The Texans are trying to bounce back from a serious injury last week. Receiver Tank Dell suffered a knee injury against the Chiefs and was transported to the hospital after being carted off the field. That means Houston lost Stefon Diggs and Dell to serious injuries, making it even more difficult for quarterback CJ Stroud, who is experiencing a sophomore slump after a great rookie season. He more than doubled his interception total, throwing 11 this season after just five as a rookie.