The NFL’s first ever game in Brazil will take place on Friday night when the Philadelphia Eagles play the Green Bay Packers.
The fact that the game is played in Brazil is not the only unique thing about the game. It’s also notable that the game will be played on Friday in Week 1. The reason it’s notable is because the game will mark the first time in 54 years that the NFL has scheduled a Friday matchup during the opening week of the season.
The last time it happened was in 1970 when the Rams defeated the Cardinals, 34-13, in a game that was played on Friday night in Los Angeles.
One reason there is such a huge gap between Friday games is because it is not easy for the NFL to schedule a Friday game during the regular season. In fact, the only reason it’s happening this year is because the league benefits from a broadcast loophole.
Under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, the NFL are not allowed to televise any games on a Friday or Saturday from the second weekend in September to the second weekend in December (These two days were designated for high school and college football). This is why you don’t see Saturday games on the NFL schedule until late in the season.
So what does that mean for this year?
The NFL always kicks off the season on the first Thursday after Labor Day. If Labor Day falls on or after September 3rd, then the first NFL weekend will be the second weekend in September and Friday games will not be allowed, but since Labor Day is on September 2nd this year, that has opened the door for the NFL will play on September 6, which is the first Friday in September.
If you’re wondering why the NFL was able to play a Black Friday game in 2023 — and will play one again in 2024 — the league also took advantage of a loophole in the broadcast rules to do so. Under the Sports Broadcasting Act, the NFL is allowed to schedule a Friday game provided that much of the game will be over by 6pm local time. This is why the NFL’s first Black Friday game started at 3:00 PM ET in 2023 and is also why the Chiefs and Raiders will start at 3:00 PM ET on Black Friday this year.
With Labor Day falling on September 1 in 2025, the NFL could potentially play another Friday opener in another foreign country to start the season.
As for the game in Sao Paulo, Packers-Eagles will mark only the third time since 2010 that the NFL has held a game on Friday during any week of the season.
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