If you were looking for a silent night on December 25, 2024, the NFL had other plans. The Christmas football game 2024 slate wasn't just a couple of games; it was a massive cultural pivot. For the first time, Netflix took the reins, moving football away from traditional cable and straight into the world of global streaming.
Honestly, it was a bit of a gamble.
People were used to the NBA owning Christmas. But Roger Goodell and the league office decided to crash the party with a Wednesday double-header that basically reshaped how we watch holiday sports. We saw the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens visiting the Houston Texans. It was loud, it was flashy, and it featured Beyoncé.
Mahomes and the Chiefs Lock Down the AFC
The early afternoon kickoff featured Patrick Mahomes doing Patrick Mahomes things. Playing at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, the Chiefs didn't just win; they systematically dismantled a Steelers team that looked stuck in the mud. The final score of 29-10 doesn't even quite capture how dominant Kansas City felt.
Mahomes was clinical. He finished 29-of-38 for 320 yards and three touchdowns. He wasn't just throwing the ball; he was toyng with the secondary. What stood out most was how fast he was getting rid of the ball—averaging 2.34 seconds from snap to throw. That's lightning.
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One of the biggest moments of the day came when Travis Kelce hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass. It wasn't just six points. It was his 77th career touchdown reception, officially passing the legendary Tony Gonzalez for the most in Chiefs history. Kelce celebrated by dunking the ball over the goalpost, which got him a penalty, but nobody in the Chiefs' locker room cared. They clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed that day.
Steelers fans, on the other hand, had a rough go. Russell Wilson struggled to get anything vertical moving, finishing with 205 yards and a costly interception. Mike Tomlin was pretty blunt afterward, saying the performance "sucked." Hard to argue with that.
Lamar Jackson’s Historic Night in Houston
If the Chiefs game was a clinical execution, the late game between the Ravens and Texans was a statement. Lamar Jackson didn't just play well; he broke records.
Baltimore walked into NRG Stadium and walked out with a 31-2 victory. Yes, you read that right. A 31-2 blowout. The Texans' only points came from a safety when Derrick Henry was tackled in his own end zone. Other than that? Total shutdown.
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Jackson was the star of the show. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, but the real story was the history. During the third quarter, Lamar broke Michael Vick’s all-time record for career rushing yards by a quarterback. It’s wild to think about how fast he reached that milestone. He now sits alone at the top of that list, and he's still in his prime.
Derrick Henry also did "King" things. He finished with 147 yards on 27 carries. The Ravens outrushed the Texans 228 to 45. When you control the line of scrimmage like that, the game is usually over by halftime.
The Netflix Factor and the Beyoncé Effect
We have to talk about the broadcast. Netflix paid a premium to host these games, and they didn't hold back. The biggest buzz wasn't actually about a touchdown—it was about the halftime show. Beyoncé performed during the Ravens-Texans game, which basically broke the internet for about forty minutes.
The numbers are staggering. The Christmas football game 2024 broadcasts averaged about 26.5 million viewers in the U.S. alone. Globally, it was even bigger. The Ravens-Texans game drew a 31.3 million global average minute audience. Netflix proved that they could handle the massive traffic of a live sporting event, even if there were some minor technical gripes from fans about the "AI-looking" scorebug and some weirdly timed Zoom interviews.
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Why This Christmas Was Different
Usually, the NFL only plays on Christmas if it falls on a weekend. In 2024, it was a Wednesday. That was a huge deal. It signaled that the league is willing to play any day of the week if the money and the audience are there.
- The Streaming Shift: This was the first year of a three-year deal with Netflix. Expect more of this.
- MVP Narratives: Lamar Jackson essentially secured his MVP case on this day.
- Playoff Implications: The Chiefs locked up home-field advantage, which is huge in January.
- Fan Reception: While the ratings were high, some fans felt "football fatigue," especially with the games being on a streaming-only platform.
The reality is that the NFL has now firmly planted its flag on December 25th. If you're a fan, you should probably get used to having your phone or smart TV ready next to the wrapping paper.
What to Watch for Next Year
Looking back at the Christmas football game 2024, it’s clear the league isn't slowing down. If you want to stay ahead of the curve for the next holiday season, keep an eye on the NFL's scheduling announcements in May. Netflix will be back, and they'll likely try to top the Beyoncé performance with something even more "Hollywood."
Check your subscription status early. The "streaming tax" for sports fans is real, and missing out on a record-breaking Lamar Jackson run or a Kelce milestone because of a login error is a tough way to spend your holiday. Pay attention to the Week 16 and 17 standings as December approaches, because as we saw with the Chiefs and Ravens, these holiday games are often where the top seeds are won or lost.
Actionable Insight: Ensure your streaming setup is optimized for live 4K broadcasts before the next holiday slate. Large-scale events like the NFL on Netflix require high-speed bandwidth (at least 25 Mbps) to avoid the buffering issues that some users reported during the 2024 games.