LOS ANGELES — The concept of playing an NFL game on Christmas Day sounded a lot better to Jay Feely when the schedule came out in the spring than it did as the holiday season approached.

It was 2010, and Feely was kicking for the Arizona Cardinals, who were 5-10 and going nowhere. They were playing host to Dallas, likewise stuck in the mud at 5-10.

“If you play or practice on Christmas morning, there’s always a little bit of ‘bah humbug’ to it,” said Feely, who kicked for seven NFL teams from 2001-14. “Because you grow up and Christmas morning is so special. You’re with your family, you open presents, you do the same type of things every year. Then I remember getting to college and you’re stuck there at bowl practice and you’re like, 'Well, this sucks.’ ”

Didn’t feel so bad, however, when “Mr. Missile Toe” nailed a 48-yard field goal with five seconds left to send the Cowboys packing, 27-26. Guess playing on Christmas wasn’t so bad after all.

“You go home and you have all your family there,” Feely said. “Especially after a game-winner like that, it just makes it a pretty special evening.”

With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, the NFL has front-loaded the schedule with 11 games on Christmas Eve, and — as on Thanksgiving — three on Christmas Day, including Denver at the Rams. The Chargers play at Indianapolis on Monday night.