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It's a magical time of year--and not just because the playoffs are approaching. Even the Raiders send tidings of good cheer

RAIDERS could be headed for a white Christmas in K.C., where they play on the 25th.

PACKERS won Christmas Eve games on frozen Lambeau Field in 1995 and 2000.

BENGALS website sells Christmas goodies such as black-and-orange team-logoed stockings.

BUFFALO was voted, in an SI Players poll, the second toughest AFC site to play a December game.

BEARS RB Anthony Thomas, in a Santa suit, gave gifts to kids at the Brain Tumor Association last week.

TEXANS guard Chester Pitts was to read seasonal stories to kids at a Houston library this week.

STEELERS WR Hines Ward, celebrating his first NFL Christmas ('98), gave four friends silver watches.

COWBOYS tackle Torrin Tucker was born on December 25, 1979, in Meridian, Miss.

CHARGERS have never played in San Diego on Christmas, where Yuletide average high temp is 66Àö.

PANTHERS community Christmas party, on Dec. 13, was visited by Santa Claus and team mascot, Sir Purr.

JETS RB Curtis Martin had a career-high eight catches versus the Ravens on Christmas Eve, 2000.

CARDS CBs Renaldo Hill and David Macklin, in Santa hats, brought gifts to underprivileged kids last week.

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