Let's be real: for a long time, Christmas belonged to the NBA. You’d wake up, open gifts, and have a slate of five basketball games running in the background while you picked at a ham or argued with your uncle about politics. But things shifted. Hard. The NFL looked at the TV ratings, realized people actually crave football with their eggnog, and decided to plant a flag right in the middle of December 25th. Now, the Chiefs game on Christmas has become the centerpiece of the league's holiday strategy, and honestly, it’s changed how we spend the day.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the league's biggest draw for a reason. Patrick Mahomes. Travis Kelce. The Taylor Swift of it all. They are the "Main Character" of the NFL right now. When the league schedules them for a holiday window, they aren't just looking for sports fans; they’re looking for everyone. It’s about grabbing the casual viewer who only watches three games a year but happens to be sitting on a couch with a remote in their hand at 3:00 PM on a Wednesday.
The Brutal Reality of Wednesday Football
Wait, Wednesday? Yeah. In 2024, the NFL did something that previously felt like a fever dream: they scheduled games on a Wednesday because that’s where Christmas fell on the calendar. Commissioner Roger Goodell used to swear up and down that the league wouldn't play on Tuesdays or Wednesdays unless it was a COVID-19 emergency. Money talks, though.
The Chiefs game on Christmas in 2024 against the Pittsburgh Steelers wasn't just a matchup; it was a proof of concept. The league had to figure out how to manage the "short week" problem. Normally, players get six days between games. Playing on a Wednesday meant the Chiefs and Steelers were operating on a schedule that would make a Victorian chimney sweep tired. It’s grueling. You’re talking about recovery windows that are basically nonexistent.
Players hate it. Fans love it. That’s the tension.
The logistics are a nightmare. You have players who want to be home with their kids, but instead, they’re in a hotel in Pittsburgh or Kansas City, eating a catered meal and watching film. It’s a business. Mahomes himself has been vocal about the balance between the "blessing" of the national stage and the reality of missing those morning moments at the Christmas tree.
Netflix and the $150 Million Gamble
If you want to understand why the Chiefs game on Christmas is such a massive deal, you have to look at the checkbook. In 2024, Netflix decided it wanted in on the action. They paid a reported $150 million to stream the two Christmas Day games.
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Think about that.
For years, we’ve been told "cable is dying," but the NFL is the only thing keeping the lights on. By moving the Chiefs to Netflix for the holidays, the NFL is basically telling fans: "We know you'll follow us anywhere." It’s a bold move that forced millions of grandmas and grandpas to figure out how to log into a streaming app just to see if Chris Jones could get a sack.
What happened to the tradition?
Usually, the Dallas Cowboys or the Detroit Lions own Thanksgiving. It’s a set-in-stone tradition. Christmas is different. It’s the wild west. The NFL doesn't have "fixed" teams for this day, but the Chiefs have become the de facto hosts because they guarantee eyeballs.
- Ratings Juggernaut: The 2023 Christmas game between the Chiefs and the Raiders pulled in nearly 30 million viewers.
- The "Swift" Factor: You can't ignore the cultural crossover. Ratings among teen girls and women spiked because of the Kelce connection.
- Betting Volume: Holiday games see a massive surge in "prop bets" because people are bored and have their phones out.
Why the 2023 Loss to the Raiders Still Haunts KC
You remember that game, right? The 2023 Chiefs game on Christmas was supposed to be a coronation. Instead, it was a disaster. The Raiders didn't even complete a pass in the second or third quarters and still won.
It was ugly. Mahomes looked frustrated. Kelce threw his helmet on the sidelines. It was the moment everyone thought the Chiefs dynasty was finally crumbling.
The reason that game matters for SEO and for history is that it proved the "Any Given Sunday" (or Monday) rule still applies on Christmas. The pressure of a holiday game is different. The lights are brighter. The distractions are everywhere. For the Chiefs, that loss actually served as a wake-up call that propelled them toward their eventual Super Bowl LVIII win. Sometimes you have to get coal in your stocking to realize you need to play better.
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The Strategy of the "Short Turnaround"
Coaches like Andy Reid are notoriously good at planning. But how do you plan for a Chiefs game on Christmas when you played just four days prior?
It's basically a mental walkthrough. You aren't doing full-contact practices in December on a short week. Your body is held together by athletic tape and Ibuprofen.
- Modified Practices: The Chiefs often shift to "10-10-10" drills—short, high-intensity segments followed by rest.
- Nutrition Overload: Recovery shakes and specific caloric intake become more important than the actual playbook.
- Mental Reps: Mahomes is known for his ability to visualize plays. On a holiday week, that's 90% of the work.
Breaking Down the Matchup Complexity
When you look at the Chiefs game on Christmas, you have to analyze the opponent. The NFL doesn't give Kansas City "gimme" games on the holidays. They want drama. They want a battle.
Take the 2024 matchup against the Steelers. You have Mike Tomlin—a guy who has never had a losing season—going up against the most explosive quarterback in history. It’s a clash of philosophies. Pittsburgh wants to drag you into the mud and make it a 13-10 boring slog. The Chiefs want to turn it into a track meet.
On Christmas, the weather usually favors the "mud" teams. Kansas City in late December is cold. It's windy. The ball feels like a rock. If you’re betting on these games, you’re usually looking at the "Under."
The Economy of a Holiday Home Game
If the Chiefs game on Christmas is at Arrowhead Stadium, the local economy in Kansas City goes into overdrive. Hotels are booked at 100% capacity. But there’s a catch.
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Staffing a stadium on Christmas is hard. You need thousands of people—security, concessions, parking attendants—to leave their families. Most of them are paid time-and-a-half or double-time. The cost of running the game goes up, but the revenue from the "Christmas gear" at the pro shop usually covers it. Have you seen the "Chiefs Kingdom" Christmas sweaters? They sell out every single year. It’s a merchandising goldmine.
Is This the End of Christmas NBA?
Kinda.
The NBA used to own this day, but the NFL’s entry into the space has been like a tidal wave. The Chiefs game on Christmas typically doubles or triples the viewership of the highest-rated NBA game on the same day.
It's a power move. The NFL is essentially saying they are the true national pastime. Even if the game is a blowout, the sheer gravity of the NFL brand pulls everyone in.
The Netflix Transition Issues
Honestly, the move to Netflix wasn't perfectly smooth. There’s always that 2-second delay compared to the radio. If you’re following the game on X (formerly Twitter), you’ll see the "TOUCHDOWN!" posts before the ball even leaves Mahomes' hand on your TV. It’s annoying. But it’s the price we pay for the evolution of sports broadcasting.
Actionable Insights for the Next Holiday Slate
If you’re planning on watching or betting on the next Chiefs game on Christmas, here is how you should actually approach it:
- Watch the Injury Report Like a Hawk: Because of the short week, "questionable" players almost never play. If a star receiver has a hamstring tweak on Saturday, he’s not playing Wednesday. Period.
- Home Field Advantage is Real: Travel on Christmas Eve/Day is a nightmare even for pro athletes. The home team has a massive psychological edge.
- The "Under" is Your Friend: Cold weather + exhausted players + holiday distractions = lower scoring games. Don't get blinded by the Mahomes highlights.
- Sync Your Audio: If you’re watching on a streaming service like Netflix or Prime, turn off your phone notifications. Don't let a text from your brother ruin the surprise of a game-winning drive.
- Check the Altitude: If the Chiefs are traveling to a place like Denver for a holiday game (it happens), the fatigue of the short week is multiplied by ten.
The Chiefs game on Christmas isn't just a sports event anymore. It’s a cultural tentpole. It’s the moment where the "Taylor Swifties" and the "Gridiron Grunts" meet in the living room. Whether you love the NFL's takeover of the holidays or you miss the days of just basketball and carols, one thing is certain: as long as Patrick Mahomes is wearing a red jersey, the NFL is going to keep gift-wrapping the Chiefs for us every December 25th.
Next Steps for Fans:
Check the official NFL schedule release in May to see if the Chiefs are locked into the 1:00 PM or 4:30 PM slot. If you're planning to attend in person, book your Kansas City hotel at least six months in advance, as prices triple once the holiday matchup is confirmed. For those watching at home, ensure your Netflix or streaming subscription is active and updated a day before to avoid "login lag" during kickoff.