Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell spoke candidly this week about his displeasure with the team’s Christmas Day road game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Detroit has already fulfilled its long-standing Thanksgiving Day obligation this season, a tradition the franchise has upheld since 1934. That holiday appearance ended in disappointment, as the Lions were defeated by NFC North rival Green Bay — a loss that carried major weight in the divisional race.

Now, the Lions are scheduled to take the field once again during the holidays. On Christmas Day, they will travel to Minnesota for a nationally streamed matchup on Netflix, adding another game during a time typically reserved for family.

Sewell, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, made it clear he is not thrilled about the situation while discussing the importance of Christmas to him and his loved ones.

“I’ll be straight up — I don’t like it,” Sewell told MLive on Thursday. “We already give up Thanksgiving every year. Having to play again on Christmas, and doing it on the road, isn’t something I’d choose. It’s part of the job, so I’ll handle it, but it’s definitely not enjoyable.”

His frustration is rooted in the Lions’ unique role in league tradition. Since 1966, Detroit and the Dallas Cowboys have been the NFL’s permanent Thanksgiving hosts. In recent years, however, the league expanded its holiday scheduling, introducing Christmas Day games beginning in 2020 — despite Christmas not traditionally being a standard game day.

For Detroit, that creates an added burden. Thanksgiving games are typically early afternoon contests, often allowing players to spend the evening with family. A Christmas Day game in another city requires travel, extended preparation, and more time away from home.

That reality hits close to home for Sewell, who is married and raising three young children.

The NFL’s Christmas programming is part of a three-year agreement with Netflix. Last season, the streaming service aired two games: Chiefs vs. Steelers and Ravens vs. Texans.

This year’s Christmas slate includes Lions-Vikings and Cowboys-Commanders.

The upcoming matchup will mark just the third time Detroit has played on Christmas Day. The franchise has yet to win on the holiday, having lost on the road to Miami in 1994 and at home to Denver in 1999 at the Pontiac Silverdome.