Christmas Day used to be about two things: opening gifts and watching the NBA. That’s over. The NFL decided it wanted the holiday, and now, it’s taking the party to Netflix. Honestly, it’s a massive pivot for a league that usually clings to traditional broadcast TV like a security blanket. If you’re trying to figure out how to watch the NFL Christmas Day games on Netflix, you’re looking at the start of a three-year deal that basically changes how we consume the biggest sport in America.
Netflix isn’t just "hosting" these games. They’re paying roughly $75 million per game for the privilege. That’s a staggering amount of cash for a few hours of programming, but when you realize the NFL is the only thing left that guaranteed 20 million people will show up at the exact same time, the math starts to make sense for a streamer trying to prove it can handle live events.
Why the NFL Christmas Day games on Netflix are a big deal for your remote
Most people are used to flipping to CBS or FOX and seeing the game. This is different. You need a subscription. You need stable Wi-Fi. You need a smart TV that doesn't decide to update its firmware right at kickoff.
The league didn't just stumble into this. They saw what Amazon did with Thursday Night Football and realized that the "walled garden" of streaming is where the younger audience lives. For the 2024 season, we’re looking at a heavy-hitting doubleheader. The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens facing the Houston Texans.
That is a lot of star power. You've got Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson—two of the most electric players on the planet—exclusive to a platform where you usually binge-watch Stranger Things. It’s a calculated risk by the NFL to see if fans will follow them behind a paywall on a day when families are gathered around the television.
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The technical hurdles nobody wants to talk about
Live sports on streaming platforms have been... rocky. Remember the Netflix live reunion specials or the roast of Tom Brady? There were glitches. Now imagine that happening during a crucial fourth-quarter drive in a game with playoff implications.
Netflix has been beefing up its infrastructure specifically for this. They aren't just using their standard movie-streaming tech. They’ve had to build out low-latency pipelines to ensure that when your neighbor screams because of a touchdown, you aren't still watching the huddle three seconds behind. It's a genuine engineering nightmare. If they pull it off, it sets a precedent. If they don't, social media will be a bloodbath of "Netflix ruined Christmas" memes within minutes.
The Schedule and the Stakes
Let’s be real. The NFL usually avoids playing on Wednesdays. But Christmas 2024 falls on a Wednesday, and the league basically said, "We don't care about the calendar." They want the eyeballs.
- Game 1: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers. Kickoff is early. You’re likely still eating leftovers. This is the big one. Mahomes in the cold of Pittsburgh? That’s prime-time drama at 1:00 PM ET.
- Game 2: Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans. This is the "new school" matchup. CJ Stroud against Lamar Jackson. It’s scheduled for 4:30 PM ET.
The league actually had to manipulate the schedule for the teams involved. Since they're playing on a Wednesday, all four teams have to play their previous games on the Saturday before. It gives them a four-day rest period, which is the same as a typical Thursday Night Football turnaround. Players aren't always thrilled about it, but the revenue sharing usually helps quiet the complaints.
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Will this happen every year?
Probably. The deal Netflix signed covers 2024, 2025, and 2026. At least one game per year, though they have two for the inaugural run. Netflix is looking for "appointment viewing." They want you to keep that subscription active through the holidays.
There’s a broader strategy here. By grabbing NFL Christmas Day games on Netflix, the company is signaling to the advertising world that they are ready to compete with the big networks. They recently launched an ad-supported tier, and there is no better place to sell 30-second spots than during a Chiefs game. Brands are salivating.
What you actually need to do to watch
Don't wait until 12:55 PM on Christmas Day to check your login. Seriously.
- Verify your Netflix plan. Any tier works, including the one with ads.
- Check your bandwidth. Live 4K (if they offer it) or even high-bitrate 1080p eats data. If the whole family is on their new iPads at the same time, the game might buffer.
- Local markets. If you live in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or Houston, the games will still be on local broadcast TV. That's an NFL rule. For everyone else, it’s Netflix or bust.
- NFL+ Option. You can also stream on mobile devices via NFL+, but for the big screen experience, the Netflix app is the primary gatekeeper.
The "Netflix-ification" of sports is here. It started with Drive to Survive and Full Swing—documentaries that made us care about the athletes. Now, they're skipping the middleman and just showing the games. It’s a massive power move. Whether it’s good for the fans is debatable, but for the business of football, it’s the inevitable future.
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Surprising details about the broadcast
Netflix isn't just taking a feed from another network. They are producing this. Well, technically, they're partnering with a production house (often someone like CBS or NBC supplies the "trucks" and crew), but the branding will be Netflix-heavy. Expect different graphics, maybe some cross-promotion with their hit shows, and a vibe that feels a bit more "prestige TV" than a standard Sunday afternoon broadcast.
The announcers matter too. Fans are picky. If the chemistry in the booth is off, the whole experience feels "cheap." Netflix knows this. They are likely poaching top-tier talent or borrowing established voices to ensure it sounds like a real NFL game.
The Bottom Line on Holiday Streaming
The transition to NFL Christmas Day games on Netflix represents the final nail in the coffin for the "only on cable" era. If the Super Bowl is the crown jewel, Christmas Day is the scepter. By moving these games to a global streaming platform, the NFL is expanding its reach to international fans who might already have Netflix but never had a reason to buy a dedicated sports package.
If you’re a fan, the reality is simple: the cost of following your team is going up, and the number of apps you need is growing. But the quality of the matchups on Christmas is undeniable. These aren't throwaway games; they are matchups between legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Log into your Netflix account a few days before Christmas to ensure your payment method is current and the app is updated on your TV.
- If you're traveling for the holidays, remember that Netflix has strict "household" sharing rules now; make sure you know how to access your account on a guest TV to avoid being locked out during kickoff.
- Check the local listings if you're in a team's home market to see if you can catch the game via a digital antenna for the lowest possible latency.