The NFL schedule makers got it right with having the Steelers-Raiders game on Dec. 24 in primetime, which falls a day after the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. It really was a no-brainer for the league.
"The game we asked for and we were hoping for was the game on Dec. 24," team president Art Rooney II said via Bob Labriola of Steelers.com. "We weren't sure if they were going to give us the Raiders or not, but they slid the Raiders into that slot, so we're excited about that and excited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception."
"We're going to have some celebrations on Dec. 23, on the actual anniversary, and so we'll probably have some guys in from that 1972 team. And we just felt it would work better to have those two days back-to-back."
Rooney also told Labriola that the Steelers throwback jerseys this year will be a replica of the 1972 jersey in honor of the Immaculate Reception.
"We'll take a closer look at it, but right now I predict it'll be that Nov. 20 game against the Bengals," Rooney said. "The throwback jersey will be a replica of the 1972 jersey. So, back to the Immaculate Reception."