You’ve got the ham in the oven. The kids are tearing through wrapping paper like feral animals. And all you really want to know is if Patrick Mahomes is going to pull off another holiday miracle. It’s a vibe. But honestly, trying to figure out how to watch Chiefs game on christmas day has become a bit of a headache lately because the NFL keeps moving the goalposts on broadcasting rights.
It used to be simple. You turned on the TV, found the local station, and sat down. Now? You need a spreadsheet and three different passwords just to see a kickoff.
The Kansas City Chiefs have become the unofficial kings of holiday television. It makes sense. They have the star power, the Taylor Swift crossover appeal, and a playbook that looks like it was designed in a lab to keep people from changing the channel. But for the 2025-2026 window, the league has leaned heavily into streaming partnerships. If you’re expecting to just "find it" by scrolling through basic cable, you might end up staring at a Yule Log broadcast while the Chiefs are scoring touchdowns.
Where the Game is Actually Hiding
Netflix. That’s the big one. In a massive shift for the industry, Netflix secured the rights to the NFL’s Christmas Day games. It’s part of a multi-year deal that basically signaled the end of the "traditional" sports broadcast era as we knew it.
If you already have a Netflix subscription, you’re mostly set. You just open the app on your Smart TV, Roku, or phone, and the game will likely be the biggest banner on the home screen. However, if you are one of the few holdouts who hasn't succumbed to the "Tudum" sound, you’ll need to sign up for at least a month. There isn't a "sports-only" tier yet, so you’re buying the whole package.
But wait. There is a loophole for the locals.
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If you live in the Kansas City area (the "home market"), federal law and NFL policy generally require the game to be available on free, over-the-air television. Usually, this means a local affiliate like KCTV5 (CBS) or similar will simulcast the game. So, if you’re in KC, dust off those digital rabbit ear antennas. You might save ten bucks.
The Mobile Option
Maybe you’re stuck at the in-laws' house and they don’t have a smart TV. Or maybe you're hiding in the bathroom for twenty minutes of peace. NFL+ is your best friend here. It’s the league’s own subscription service. The catch? It usually only works on phones and tablets for live local and primetime games. You can’t "cast" it to a TV in most cases. It’s a "personal screen" experience, which is kinda lonely but better than missing the game entirely.
Why the Chiefs on Christmas is Such a Big Deal
The NFL realized something a few years ago: Christmas is the new Thanksgiving. While the Lions and Cowboys own the fourth Thursday in November, the Chiefs are becoming the anchors of December 25th.
Think back to the 2023 Christmas game against the Raiders. It was a disaster for KC—Mahomes was frustrated, the offense looked out of sync, and they lost 20-14. It was one of those "the sky is falling" moments in Mid-America. But that game also drew massive ratings because everyone was home, bored, and looking for a reason to shout at the screen. The league noticed. They saw that even a "bad" Chiefs game is a goldmine.
When you’re looking into how to watch Chiefs game on christmas day, you aren’t just looking for a stream. You’re looking for the cultural moment. Whether it's Travis Kelce making a highlight-reel catch or the cameras cutting to the luxury boxes every five minutes, these games are produced like Super Bowls.
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International Fans and VPNs
What if you’re abroad? Maybe you’re spending the holidays in London or Cancun. NFL Game Pass International (usually through DAZN) is the standard answer. However, if you’re a US resident traveling, you might find your domestic apps blocked. Some people use VPNs like ExpressVPN or NordVPN to set their location back to the States. It’s a bit of a gray area, and Netflix is notoriously good at blocking VPN servers, so don't bank your whole Christmas morning on this working perfectly without some troubleshooting.
Technical Glitches and the "Stream Lag" Problem
Let’s be real. Streaming live sports isn't perfect. There is a delay.
If you are following the game on X (formerly Twitter) or getting scores pushed to your phone, you will likely see the "SPOILER" before you see the play happen on your TV. Streaming lag can be anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes behind the actual live action.
- Turn off notifications: Seriously. Silence the ESPN app.
- Hardwire your internet: If your Wi-Fi is spotty because everyone is on their new iPads, plug an Ethernet cable into your TV or gaming console.
- Restart the router early: Do it at 10:00 AM so you aren't doing it at kickoff.
The demand on Netflix’s servers for a live NFL game is astronomical. While they’ve handled Squid Game releases and live comedy specials, a live sporting event is a different beast. Buffering is the ghost of Christmas past that nobody wants to see.
What Most People Get Wrong About Holiday Games
A lot of folks assume that because it's a "national" game, it’ll be on ESPN or NBC. That’s not a safe bet anymore. The league is slicing the pie into smaller and smaller pieces. Last year it was Amazon Prime for certain games; this year, the Christmas focus is heavily on the streamers.
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Also, don't assume the kickoff time is set in stone until about a week before. The NFL loves to flex games to maximize viewership. While Christmas games are less likely to move than a random Sunday night game, the scheduling can still be tricky if you're trying to time your dinner around the fourth quarter.
Check the official Chiefs website or the NFL app on Christmas Eve. Double-check the time zone. It sounds stupid, but you’d be surprised how many people in Mountain Time miss the first quarter because they assumed an Eastern Time kickoff.
The Bars and Public Places
If your home internet is trash, or you just can’t deal with the Netflix interface, sports bars are usually open on Christmas evening. Not all of them, obviously. But places like Buffalo Wild Wings or local KC staples often open up for the "second half" of the day. It's a great way to escape the family drama and drink a beer with people who actually understand what a "cover zero" defense is.
Practical Checklist for Game Day
Don't wait until five minutes before kickoff to figure out how to watch Chiefs game on christmas day. That is a recipe for a holiday meltdown.
- Verify your Netflix login. If you haven't used it in a month, you might have been logged out. Find the password now.
- Update your apps. Smart TVs often require an app update before they’ll let you stream live content. Do this on December 24th.
- Check your data caps. If you’re streaming in 4K, you’re burning through a lot of data. Most home plans are "unlimited" these days, but it’s worth a glance if you’re on a weird rural plan.
- Audio Setup. If you have a soundbar, make sure the "voice enhancement" mode is on. The crowd noise on these big broadcasts often drowns out the commentators, which can be annoying if you’re trying to hear the penalty explanations.
Living in a world where football is scattered across five different apps is annoying. We all miss the days when you just turned to Channel 4. But the reality is that the Chiefs are a premium product, and premium products live on premium platforms now.
Get your tech sorted early. Get the snacks ready. Make sure the remote is charged. Whether Mahomes is throwing no-look passes or the defense is grinding out a win, you don't want to be the one staring at a "loading" circle while the rest of the world is cheering.
Your Final Action Plan
First, confirm if you're in the local Kansas City broadcast market. If you are, buy a $20 digital antenna today—it's the most reliable backup plan in existence. If you aren't local, ensure your Netflix account is active and the app is installed on your primary viewing device. Download the NFL app on your phone as a "plan C" just in case the living room TV becomes a battleground for Hallmark movies. Once that's done, you're cleared to focus on the football and the food.