The Kansas City Chiefs are basically becoming the NFL's unofficial holiday residents. For the third year in a row, the Chiefs find themselves suited up while most of the country is digging into leftover ham. If you're trying to figure out what time do the Chiefs play on Christmas, the short answer is that they are the grand finale of the holiday tripleheader.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET (7:15 p.m. CT).
The game is taking place at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. This isn't just a random scheduling fluke. The league is leaning hard into a Thursday Night Football vibe for Christmas 2025, which makes sense since December 25th actually falls on a Thursday this year.
Viewing Schedule and Kickoff Details
Planning your day around three different NFL games requires some serious clock-watching. The Chiefs are anchoring the "nightcap" slot, which means they won't even take the field until the early evening games have likely wrapped up and everyone is settling into their second or third round of holiday treats.
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Here is the exact timing breakdown for the Chiefs game across U.S. time zones:
- Eastern Time: 8:15 p.m.
- Central Time: 7:15 p.m.
- Mountain Time: 6:15 p.m.
- Pacific Time: 5:15 p.m.
Honestly, the 8:15 p.m. ET start time is pretty standard for primetime NFL broadcasts, but it feels different on Christmas. You’ve got to navigate dinner, gift exchanges, and that one uncle who keeps trying to change the channel to a Yule Log stream.
Where to Stream the Game
The most important thing to know this year is that you won't find the Chiefs on your local CBS or FOX station. The NFL has carved out specific broadcast rights for the 2025 holiday.
While the two earlier games (Cowboys vs. Commanders and Lions vs. Vikings) are exclusive to Netflix, the Chiefs vs. Broncos game is a Prime Video exclusive. This follows the league’s standard Thursday Night Football partnership with Amazon. If you don't have an Amazon Prime subscription, you'll need to sign up for a trial or find a friend who has one.
Local fans in the Kansas City and Denver markets usually get a bit of a break, though. Historically, the NFL allows local affiliate stations—like KSHB in Kansas City—to broadcast the game over the air so people in the immediate area don't have to stream it. But for everyone else? It’s Amazon or bust.
Why This Matchup Matters (Or Doesn't)
The 2025 season has been... weird for Kansas City. By the time this Christmas Day game arrived, the Chiefs were actually 6-9. That’s a sentence most fans never thought they’d read in the Patrick Mahomes era.
To make matters even more complicated, the Chiefs are heading into this game without Mahomes or even backup Gardner Minshew due to injuries. The reins have been handed to Chris Oladokun.
On the other side, the Denver Broncos are having a massive resurgence. They entered this Christmas showdown at 12-3, fighting for a first-round bye in the AFC. It’s a complete role reversal from the last decade of this rivalry. Even though the Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention, knocking the Broncos off their pedestal in front of a national audience is the kind of "spoiler" energy Arrowhead lives for.
The Full NFL Christmas Tripleheader
If you’re a football junkie, the Chiefs game is just the end of a very long day. The NFL really went all-out with the schedule this year.
- 1:00 p.m. ET: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders (Netflix)
- 4:30 p.m. ET: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings (Netflix)
- 8:15 p.m. ET: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (Prime Video)
It's a heavy dose of divisional rivalries. The Cowboys and Commanders are fighting for NFC East pride, while the Lions and Vikings are in a dogfight for the NFC North. The Chiefs closing things out against Denver is just the icing on the cake.
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Actionable Tips for Fans
If you're attending the game in person or hosting a watch party, keep these logistics in mind.
First, if you're heading to Arrowhead, remember that Kansas City weather in late December is unpredictable. It can be a crisp 40 degrees or a bone-chilling 10 degrees with wind. Since it's a night game, the temperature will drop significantly after kickoff. Layer up.
Second, check your internet connection early. Because the game is on Prime Video, millions of people will be streaming simultaneously. If your Wi-Fi is spotty, you might experience that annoying 30-second delay where your phone notifications tell you about a touchdown before you see it on the screen. Turn off those sports app alerts if you want to stay surprised.
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Lastly, make sure your Prime Video app is updated on your smart TV or streaming stick. There’s nothing worse than the "Update Required" screen appearing at 8:14 p.m. when the kickoff is seconds away.
The Chiefs playing on Christmas has become a new tradition. Whether they are Super Bowl favorites or playing the role of the underdog spoiler, they draw a crowd. Set your alarms for 8:15 p.m. ET and enjoy the final big game of the holiday.