Your Guide to Football’s New Day

There used to be a time when the NFL was confined to Sunday. Over the years, though, things have expanded. There are games on Monday and Thursday nights; the league also pushes into Saturday as soon as it’s allowed each season. Thanksgiving Day, however, is the granddaddy of them all when it comes to non-Sunday NFL action.

This year, though, things are going even further. Beyond the standard slate of Turkey Day games, the NFL has scheduled a Black Friday contest for the first time.

So, with that inaugural contest in mind, let’s consider everything you need to know ahead of this unique matchup.

Who’s Playing on Black Friday?

Starting with the most basic details, the NFL Black Friday game pits the Miami Dolphins against the New York Jets. It was expected to feature some high-stakes divisional action—we’ll talk more about that shortly—but, instead, things will probably be a bit flat.

Miami is standing tall at 7-3, making it one of the AFC’s top teams. The Jets, on the other hand, have struggled without Aaron Rodgers. At 4-6, Gang Green hasn’t been a total disaster, but they certainly aren’t anything to write home about.

At the risk of tempting fate, the contest should be largely one-sided; the biggest talking point will be Miami’s ability (or lack thereof) to take care of business in unusual circumstances.

Why Are They Playing on Black Friday?

There are two answers to this, depending on what scale you’re considering.

First, on the macro level, it makes sense for the NFL to expand into Black Friday. The league already owns Thanksgiving, and with many people taking the following day off, it seems like a logical place to put a football game.

Further, since the league is now working closely with Amazon, there’s a chance to mix NFL action with Black Friday shopping. That also brought a New York team into the picture.

“Amazon, which will distribute the game on Prime Video, reached out to the league about having one of the NFL’s New York teams involved in the inaugural Black Friday game,” an ESPN write-up from May 2023 explained. “Amazon suggested that its positioning as a giant retailer and having a game in the top retail market in the country could be a ‘fun way’ to introduce the concept.”

League executive Mike North also told Adam Schefter that the Cincinnati Bengals were interested in hosting the game. A Black Friday meeting between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants was an option, but ultimately the Jets and Dolphins were chosen.

And while hindsight may be 20-20, that game seemed like a reasonable pick at the time. With Rodgers, the Jets were expected to fight for the AFC East title. And even if the Dolphins weren’t tapped to be as explosive as they are, an offense featuring Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle was always going to be exciting.

How to Watch Black Friday Football

For the most part, NFL fans are well versed in finding their preferred games. There are standard timeslots each weekend, and games are televised on only a handful of networks.

But because there’s never been a Black Friday football game before to provide a frame of reference, when the Dolphins and Jets take the field (Friday, November 24, at 3 p.m. ET), the action will air on Amazon. And while that suggests things will run like a Thursday Night Football game, there will be a key difference. Those weekly contests require Amazon Prime, but that won’t be the case on Black Friday; a standard Amazon account will do the trick.

For those who prefer terrestrial options, though, you’re not completely out of luck. The game will be aired on regular television in the New York and Miami markets.

What to Expect From Jets and Dolphins

In terms of the AFC standings, there won’t be too much drama. That doesn’t mean that the game isn’t worth watching, though.

From the Jets perspective, all eyes will be on the man under center. After persisting with Zach Wilson, head coach Robert Saleh has finally decided to make a change. Tim Boyle will be starting at quarterback.

And while his numbers (0-3 across 18 NFL appearances with 607 passing yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions) don’t suggest that Boyle is the answer, it will be interesting to see how the team responds. Will the Jets rally around the new signal-caller and try to make a statement on the national stage? Or will the offense produce another meek outing, albeit with a different leader?

On the opposite sideline, the Dolphins will have to maintain focus in an unusual situation. Professional athletes are largely creatures of habit, and the standard NFL routine doesn’t include playing on Friday afternoon. Add the Thanksgiving holiday and the Jets’ struggles into the mix, and the Dolphins will have to ensure that they keep their collective eyes on the ball.

Will the Dolphins be able to do that? Or will the Jets rally to pull off an upset? At this point, we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out.