Christmas used to be for the NBA. It was a simple, unspoken rule of the American sports calendar. You opened your presents, grabbed a plate of leftovers, and watched the Lakers or the Knicks while the NFL stayed out of the way. But that’s over. The NFL decided that tradition is negotiable and ratings are absolute. Honestly, it’s kinda wild how fast things changed. Now, if you’re wondering who's playing football on Christmas day, you aren't just looking for a channel—you're looking for an app.
In 2024, the league made a massive move by partnering with Netflix. This isn't just a one-off thing either. It’s part of a three-year deal that keeps the NFL on your streaming queue through 2026. For the 2024 holiday, we have a double-header that essentially pits the AFC’s heavy hitters against each other in a race for playoff positioning.
The Big Matchups: Who's Playing Football on Christmas Day?
The schedule makers didn't go easy on the players this year. Even though December 25 falls on a Wednesday—a day of the week that usually belongs to practice squads and film study—the NFL scheduled two massive games.
First up, at 1:00 PM ET, the Kansas City Chiefs travel to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is a fascinating matchup because of the sheer contrast in styles. You have Patrick Mahomes, who basically treats the football like a magic wand, going up against a Mike Tomlin defense that wants to turn every game into a grinding, low-scoring bar fight. It’s a classic "unstoppable force vs. immovable object" scenario.
Then, at 4:30 PM ET, the action stays in the AFC North as the Baltimore Ravens visit the Houston Texans. This might actually be the better game for pure football nerds. Seeing Lamar Jackson and C.J. Stroud on the same field is a gift. Stroud has turned the Texans from a basement-dweller into a legitimate contender in record time, and Baltimore is, well, Baltimore. They’re physical, they’re fast, and they’re always a threat to win the Super Bowl.
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Why Wednesday? The NFL’s Bold Power Move
Most fans assumed that when Christmas fell on a Wednesday, the NFL would take a break. Usually, the league only plays on the holiday if it lands on a weekend or a Monday. But Roger Goodell and the league office saw the viewership numbers from previous years and realized they could basically print money by ignoring the traditional weekly schedule.
It's a logistical nightmare for the teams. Playing on Wednesday means these four teams—the Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens, and Texans—have to play their previous game on Saturday. It creates a "short week" vibe that players generally hate, but the league loves because the TV revenue is astronomical. Netflix reportedly paid about $75 million per game for the rights to stream these matchups. That’s a lot of money just to make sure you stay subscribed after you finish binge-watching whatever true-crime doc just dropped.
The Netflix Factor: How to Actually Watch
If you try to find these games on CBS or FOX, you’re going to be staring at a local news broadcast or a movie marathon. This is a Netflix exclusive. It’s a huge shift.
You’ve probably noticed the NFL spreading its wings lately. First, it was Amazon Prime for Thursday Night Football, then Peacock got an exclusive playoff game (which caused a whole lot of drama on social media), and now Netflix owns Christmas. If you already have a Netflix subscription, you’re good to go. If not, you might find yourself signing up for a month just to see if Mahomes can pull off another holiday miracle.
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It’s worth noting that if you live in the local markets for these teams—like if you’re actually in Pittsburgh or Kansas City—the games will still be available on local broadcast television. The NFL has a long-standing rule about that to make sure fans without high-speed internet aren't totally left in the cold. But for the rest of the country? It’s Netflix or nothing.
What This Means for the Playoff Picture
By the time we get to late December, these games aren't just exhibitions. They are high-stakes chess matches. The AFC is notoriously crowded. A win for the Steelers on Christmas could be the difference between a Wild Card spot and watching the playoffs from the couch.
- Kansas City: They are almost always fighting for the number one seed. For them, every game is about securing that first-round bye.
- Baltimore: They have one of the toughest schedules in the league. Surviving a road game in Houston is a massive "ask" for any team, especially on a short week.
- Houston: They are the new kids on the block. Beating the Ravens on national (streaming) TV would signal to the rest of the league that the Texans have truly arrived.
- Pittsburgh: Never count out Mike Tomlin. Even when the roster looks thin, he finds a way to keep them in the hunt.
The Player Safety Debate
You can't talk about who's playing football on Christmas day without mentioning the toll it takes. Players are vocal about the "short week" recovery process. The human body isn't really designed to collide with 300-pound linemen twice in four days.
The league tries to mitigate this by ensuring the teams playing on Wednesday also played the previous Saturday, giving them at least a four-day gap. Is it enough? Some say no. But as long as the ratings stay high, the schedule will likely continue to expand into these "non-traditional" days. It’s a trade-off: more exposure and more money for the league, but more physical stress for the athletes.
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Historical Context: A New Tradition?
NFL football on Christmas used to be a rarity. In fact, the league used to actively avoid it. The first-ever Christmas Day game was a playoff match in 1971 between the Dolphins and the Chiefs. It went into double overtime and remains the longest game in NFL history. It was so long that it actually delayed a lot of families' Christmas dinners, leading to a minor public outcry. The league stayed away from the holiday for years after that.
But things changed in the 2000s. The NFL realized that people want to watch sports on holidays. It’s the ultimate escapism. Now, it feels like the NBA is the one on the defensive. When the NFL decides to take over a day, they don't just participate—they dominate.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning to catch the action, don't wait until kickoff to figure out your setup. Here is how to handle the day:
- Verify your Login: If you haven't used Netflix in a while, or if you share an account, make sure you know the password and that your "extra member" slots haven't been bumped.
- Check your Bandwidth: 4K streaming for a live sporting event requires a solid connection. If your Wi-Fi is spotty in the basement, you might want to run an ethernet cable or move the router.
- Sync the Saturday Schedule: Remember that these teams play on the Saturday before Christmas too. If you want the full context of the "short week" fatigue, watch those games to see who comes out banged up.
- Local Fans: If you're in the home markets, check your local listings for the ABC or NBC affiliate that will carry the game for free over the air.
The NFL’s takeover of the holiday calendar is nearly complete. By moving to Wednesday and partnering with a global streamer, they’ve proven that the shield is more powerful than any tradition. Whether you love the move or hate the "streaming-ification" of sports, one thing is certain: Christmas Day is now a football day.
Next Steps for Your Holiday Prep
- Audit your streaming services: Ensure your Netflix subscription is active and that your TV’s app is updated to the latest version to avoid lag during the live stream.
- Set your Saturday reminders: Mark December 21 on your calendar. Since the Christmas teams play then, you'll want to see which key players get injured, as they almost certainly won't clear protocol in time for the Wednesday game.
- Plan the menu early: Since these games run back-to-back starting at 1:00 PM ET, you’re looking at seven hours of football. Aim for snacks that don't require you to be stuck in the kitchen during the third-quarter drives.