Week 17 is a weird beast. Honestly, it’s that specific slice of the NFL season where the "playoff picture" stops being a metaphor and starts being a survival chart. You’ve got teams desperately clawing for a wild card spot, while others are resting starters because they’ve already locked up the division.
If you’re trying to plan your life around these games, you need an NFL week 17 printable schedule that actually reflects reality. Why? Because the league loves to move things around. Between the Christmas Day triple-header and the flex scheduling that kicks in when games "matter" more, your standard preseason fridge magnet is probably lying to you by now.
The Christmas Chaos and Saturday Shifts
The 2025-2026 season threw us a massive curveball with Christmas falling on a Thursday. Usually, Thursday Night Football is a single game on Prime Video. Not this time. The NFL decided to colonize the holiday entirely.
We’re looking at three games on December 25th. The day starts with the Cowboys visiting the Commanders at 1:00 PM ET, followed by the Lions and Vikings at 4:30 PM. Both of those are streaming on Netflix, which is a big shift from the traditional broadcast model. The night caps off with the Broncos and Chiefs at 8:15 PM on Prime Video.
But it doesn't stop there. Because the holiday games moved the "weekend" forward, the Saturday slate is also stacked. You’ve got the Texans at Chargers and the Ravens at Packers.
If you don't have a physical copy of the schedule, it’s incredibly easy to miss these mid-week shifts. I’ve seen fans show up to sports bars on Sunday morning only to realize the "game of the week" happened two days ago. Don't be that person.
Sunday’s Main Event: December 28, 2025
The Sunday afternoon window remains the meat of the schedule. Most of these kick off at 1:00 PM ET, but the late afternoon and primetime slots are where the drama lives.
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- Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals: 1:00 PM (FOX)
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns: 1:00 PM (CBS)
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts: 1:00 PM (FOX)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins: 1:00 PM (FOX)
- Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills: 4:25 PM (FOX)
- Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers: 8:20 PM (NBC/Peacock)
The Eagles and Bills matchup is particularly spicy. By Week 17, both of these teams are usually fighting for seeding. If the weather in Buffalo is doing its typical December thing, that game becomes a must-watch for the pure aesthetic of "Snow Football."
Why You Need an NFL Week 17 Printable Schedule
You might think, "I have an app for this." Sure. We all do. But apps don't let you scribble notes. They don't let you highlight the "elimination" games or keep track of the three different parlays you’ve got running with your buddies.
A physical schedule is basically a battle map. When you’re looking at the NFL week 17 printable schedule, you’re seeing the paths to the postseason. You can see that while you’re watching the Saints and Titans, the result of the Jets and Patriots game actually matters more for the draft order.
Kinda helps to see the whole board at once, you know?
The Flex Scheduling Nightmare
The NFL has the "flex" power in Week 17. This means they can take a game that was supposed to be at 1:00 PM and move it to Sunday Night Football if it has massive playoff implications.
For Week 17, the league can flex Sunday Night Football (NBC) as late as six days before the game. For Monday Night Football (ESPN/ABC) and Thursday Night Football (Prime Video), the rules are a bit stricter, usually requiring 12 to 21 days' notice.
Essentially, if a matchup like the Bears vs. 49ers loses its luster because one team collapses mid-season, the NFL can swap in a game that actually matters. This is why having a "tentative" label on your printed schedule is a smart move. Always check the final updates on the Tuesday before kickoff.
Strategy for the Week 17 "Dead Games"
Not every game in Week 17 is a banger. Honestly, some of them are pretty grim. When you’re looking at the Falcons and Rams on Monday night, or the Giants and Raiders on Sunday afternoon, you have to ask yourself: who is actually playing?
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Late in the season, injuries have decimated rosters. Plus, if a team is already out of the hunt, they might be "evaluating talent." That’s code for "playing the backup quarterback to see if he’s worth a roster spot next year."
If you’re a betting person or a fantasy manager, Week 17 is notoriously difficult. The NFL week 17 printable schedule helps you identify the "meaningless" games where starters might only play a quarter. Keep an eye on the injury reports for teams like the Rams or Dolphins, who often have high-stakes games but fragile depth charts.
The Venue Factor: Cold Weather Sites
By late December, the environment becomes the 12th man.
- Buffalo: Expect wind and lake-effect snow.
- Green Bay: The "Frozen Tundra" is literal in Week 17.
- New York (Jets/Giants): Swirling winds at MetLife can ruin a kicking game.
When you print your schedule, it’s worth noting which games are in domes (like Falcons at Atlanta or Raiders in Vegas) versus which ones are at the mercy of the elements. It changes how the game is played and, frankly, how much fun it is to watch.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Schedule
Don't just print a list of games. Use a template that leaves room for scores and standings. If you’re a real nerd about it, you can track the "Magic Number" for your team right on the page.
- Download a Clean PDF: Look for one that doesn't have a million ads.
- Highlight Your Priority Games: Use different colors for the 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and Primetime slots.
- Note the Networks: With games on Netflix, Peacock, Prime Video, and traditional cable, you need to know which remote to grab.
The Texans and Chargers game on Saturday, December 27th, is a great example of the "streaming shuffle." It’s on NFL Network. If you don't have that in your cable package, you’ll be scrambling at 4:29 PM trying to find a stream. Write it down. Be prepared.
Final Reality Check
The NFL schedule is a living document. While we have the dates and the matchups set for 2025, the stakes are what change. A game that looks like a snooze-fest in May can be the most important game of the year by December.
Keep your NFL week 17 printable schedule handy, but keep your phone closer. If the league decides to move a game to a different time slot to chase ratings, you don't want to be left watching a pre-game show while the actual kickoff is happening on another channel.
To stay ahead of the game, cross-reference your printed list with the official NFL communications on the Monday of Week 17. That's when the final flex decisions are usually locked in, giving you enough time to stock the fridge and claim your spot on the couch for the long holiday weekend of football.
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Check your local listings for any regional "blackout" rules that might affect the 1:00 PM games in your area, especially if you're following an out-of-market team.
Download your preferred template, grab a pen, and get ready for the home stretch. Week 17 is where legends—and unfortunate draft positions—are made.