Christmas used to be for the NBA. That was the unwritten rule of the sports world for decades. You’d open your presents, eat too much ham, and then settle in for a triple-header of hoops. But things have changed. Drastically. Now, the NFL has basically kicked the front door down and claimed December 25th as its own, making the football schedule christmas day the most anticipated part of the winter calendar for millions of fans. It’s a massive shift in American culture, honestly.
The league used to be shy about this. For a long time, if Christmas fell on a Sunday, they’d move most of the games to Saturday to avoid clashing with the holiday. Not anymore. The ratings were just too high to ignore. When you look at the numbers, it makes total sense. People want to sit on the couch and watch football while they digest. It’s become the new tradition.
The Logistics of the 2025-2026 Football Schedule Christmas Day
This year is a bit of a weird one because of how the days fall. Because Christmas 2025 lands on a Thursday, the NFL had to get creative. Normally, Thursday is reserved for Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, but when you’re talking about a holiday, the league expands the footprint.
The 2025 holiday lineup features a doubleheader that has everyone talking. First, we’ve got the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers. That game is huge. You have Patrick Mahomes, the face of the league, going into one of the most hostile environments in the AFC. It’s scheduled for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff. After that, the action shifts to Baltimore, where the Baltimore Ravens host the Houston Texans at 4:30 PM ET.
Both of these games are being carried by Netflix. Yeah, you read that right. Netflix.
This is the first time the streaming giant has waded into the live NFL waters like this. It’s a three-year deal, so get used to it. The league is chasing the audience wherever they are. If you’re used to just flipping on CBS or FOX, you’re gonna have to make sure your Wi-Fi is holding up this year. Honestly, it's a bit of a headache for the older crowd who just wants to turn on the "regular" TV, but the NFL is betting that the 270 million global Netflix subscribers will more than make up for the confusion.
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Why Netflix Paid a Ransom for Christmas Games
It isn't just about the games. It's about the data. Netflix wants to prove they can handle massive live events after some of the hiccups they had with the Love is Blind reunions and the Chris Rock specials. By snagging the football schedule christmas day, they are positioning themselves as a destination for "event" television.
Hans Schroeder, the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Media Distribution, basically said as much. He noted that there is no better stage than Christmas Day for these kinds of partnerships. The league saw the 2023 ratings—where three games averaged nearly 29 million viewers—and realized they had a goldmine. They aren't just competing with the NBA anymore; they are dominating them. Last year, the NFL's lowest-rated Christmas game still had more viewers than the NBA’s highest-rated one. That’s a reality check.
The Impact on the Players and Teams
Let’s be real for a second: the players aren't always thrilled about this. Imagine being a player for the Texans and having to fly to Baltimore on Christmas Eve. You miss the morning with your kids. You’re eating a team meal in a Marriott instead of having dinner with your family.
The NFL tried to mitigate this by ensuring that the teams playing on Christmas also played the previous Saturday. This gives them a "normal" four-day rest cycle, similar to a standard Sunday-to-Thursday turnaround. But it’s still a grind.
John Harbaugh, the Ravens' coach, has been vocal about the challenges of short weeks, but coaches also know that playing on Christmas is a massive recruiting tool and a brand builder. If you’re a star player, you want to be on that screen when the whole world is watching.
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The stakes on the field are just as high as the ratings. By late December, every game is a playoff game. The Chiefs are likely hunting for a top seed in the AFC. The Texans, led by C.J. Stroud, are trying to prove they belong in the elite tier of the league. These aren't exhibition games. They are high-intensity, physical battles that happen to have a holiday backdrop.
How to Watch the Games Without Pulling Your Hair Out
If you’re planning your day around the football schedule christmas day, you need a plan. Since both games are on Netflix, you can't just rely on your antenna.
- Check your subscription early. Don't wait until 12:55 PM on Christmas Day to realize you forgot your password.
- Local Markets still get a break. If you live in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or Houston, the games will still be broadcast on over-the-air local channels. This is a league rule to ensure local fans don't have to pay for a streaming service to see their team.
- Bandwidth matters. If you have twelve relatives over and everyone is on their phones, your stream might buffer. Maybe kick the kids off the iPads during the fourth quarter.
The Evolution of the Holiday Tradition
It’s wild to think that until 1971, the NFL didn't play on Christmas at all. The first time they tried it, they had a double-overtime thriller between the Dolphins and the Chiefs. It was the longest game in NFL history. But people complained! They said it ruined the holiday. The league actually backed off for years because of the public outcry.
Fast forward to now, and we can't get enough. We’ve gone from "Save our Christmas" to "Where is the remote?"
The NBA still has its five-game slate, starting with the Knicks at noon, but the oxygen in the room is being taken up by the pigskin. The football schedule christmas day has become the centerpiece. It’s the anchor that everything else rotates around.
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Preparation for the Fan Experience
If you're hosting, you have to think about the timing. The 1:00 PM ET start for Chiefs-Steelers is the danger zone. That’s usually when dinner is being served. My advice? Move dinner to 4:00 PM ET. You can catch the end of the first game and the start of the second during the meal.
Also, keep an eye on the injury reports. By Week 17, these rosters are bruised. The weather in Pittsburgh and Baltimore in late December is rarely "friendly." We’re talking potential snow, definitely wind, and "smash-mouth" football. It’s the kind of environment where the running game becomes king.
Actionable Steps for the Holiday Slate
To make the most of this year's schedule, you should handle the technical side now so you can enjoy the games later. Start by verifying your streaming setup. If you’re using a Smart TV, ensure the Netflix app is updated to the latest version to avoid "live stream" glitches that sometimes haunt older software versions.
Next, if you’re a bettor or a fantasy manager, pay close attention to the "Saturday-to-Thursday" transition. Teams playing on Christmas are on a specific rest schedule that often leads to more conservative playbooks. Lower scoring might be the theme if the weather turns sour in the Northeast.
Finally, set your DVR for the local broadcasts if you’re in the home markets. Even if you plan to watch live, these games often have historic moments—like the "Immaculate Reception" style plays—that you’ll want to save. The NFL on Christmas isn't just a game anymore; it's a piece of the holiday fabric that’s here to stay.