PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- Robert Porcher, the Detroit Lions' defensive end, loves football. But he's getting sick and tired of playing on holidays. And he's not alone.

The Lions (8-6) will entertain the Denver Broncos (5-9) on Christmas Day. It is a situation neither team enjoys. But the Lions have extra reasons.

The Lions already have played on Halloween and Thanksgiving. And, a few days after playing on Christmas, they have to travel to Minnesota on New Year's Eve.

"I hate it," Porcher said. "It's one of the things that's part of our job that a lot of people don't think about.

"People always say we have such easy jobs, but from July through the end of the season, we don't have any days off."

He doesn't like it. This is a time when Porcher feels he should be home with his children.

"I don't care how much money you make," Porcher said. "You can't make up for that."

Lions coach Bobby Ross is sympathetic to the players' plight. Still, this is an important game for the Lions. So while trying to do everything he can for his players, Ross knows that Detroit must win to stay in the hunt for an NFC playoff berth.

Ross told the players they could report later than usual to the team hotel Friday night. Because the game doesn't start until 4:15 p.m., Ross can put off any team meetings until morning.

Yet the prospect of sleeping in a team hotel, rather than at home, was something less than appealing to either team. Spending Christmas morning at meetings, rather than by a tree, wasn't met with high-fives, either.

"There's a lot of other places I'd like to be on Christmas Day, such as home with my family," Broncos' quarterback Brian Griese said. "But I'm looking forward to playing the Lions. Detroit is looking at the playoffs. We might have something to say about it."

There isn't a lot of history between these teams. What there is, however, has an unusually strong holiday flavor. The Lions and Broncos have played only seven times, with Denver holding a 4-3 edge. Three of those meetings were on Thanksgiving Day at Detroit.

The last time they met was the 1990 Thanksgiving Day game, when the Lions beat Denver 40-27. A youngster named Barry Sanders rushed for 147 yards that day.

Sanders isn't around any more, which makes the Lions' situation difficult. Despite the star running back's surprise retirement this year, Detroit is in the thick of the playoff race in the watered-down NFC.

One win and the Lions likely would be assured of at least a wild-card playoff berth. Two wins and they might even win the NFC Central. It's been that kind of a year in the NFC.

The insult of having to be on the road for Christmas is made even worse for the Broncos by the disappointment of this season. Embossed on the cover of the Broncos' media guide are two Super Bowl trophies. "World Champions 1997, 1998" reads the inscription.

Without Sanders, Detroit got off to a 6-2 start. But the Broncos haven't found it as easy to replace their retired quarterback, John Elway. Denver lost its first four games and it was clear the Broncos weren't going anywhere.

"We expected to do better," Griese said. "We've had a lot of guys hurt."

As a result, the two-time defending champions are reduced to the role of spoilers on Christmas Day. But, if that's the best they can do, then coach Mike Shanahan is determined the Broncos will be just that.

"For some reason, we always make things dramatic when it comes time for the playoffs," Shanahan said.

DENVER Season schedule and results

DETROIT Season schedule and results

September 13 Miami L 21-38 September 19 @Kansas City L 10-26 September 26 @Tampa Bay L 10-13 October 3 NY Jets L 13-21 October 10 @Oakland W 16-13 October 17 Green Bay W 31-10 October 24 @New England L 23-24 October 31 Minnesota L 20-23 November 7 @San Diego W 33-17 November 14 @Seattle L 17-20 November 22 Oakland W 27-21 December 5 Kansas City L 10-16 December 13 @Jacksonville L 24-27 December 19 Seattle W 36-30 December 25 @Detroit 4:15pm ET January 2 San Diego 4:15pm ET

September 12 @Seattle W 28-20 September 19 Green Bay W 23-15 September 26 @Kansas City L 21-31 October 10 San Diego L 10-20 October 17 Minnesota W 25-23 October 24 @Carolina W 24-9 October 31 Tampa Bay W 20-3 November 7 St. Louis W 31-27 November 14 @Arizona L 19-23 November 21 @Green Bay L 17-26 November 25 Chicago W 21-17 December 5 Washington W 33-17 December 12 @Tampa Bay L 16-23 December 19 @Chicago L 10-28 December 25 Denver 4:15pm ET January 2 @Minnesota 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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