Catch the NFL Christmas Day Games: Where to Watch the Action Live!

In a historic move, Netflix will air two NFL games for the first time on Christmas Day, marking a significant milestone since the platform launched in 1998. This event is branded as “NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix,” set to kick off with a two-hour pregame show starting at 11 a.m. The matchups include Pittsburgh hosting Kansas City, followed by Baltimore facing off against Houston.

The streaming service secured a three-year contract in May to feature Christmas Day games, reflecting the NFL’s increasing focus on streaming platforms. With 282.3 million subscribers across 190 countries, Netflix is set to deliver the games in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. This represents the first instance of a single outlet distributing an NFL game globally.

Fans can also catch the games on CBS affiliates in the respective markets of the competing teams. According to NFL policy, when games are streamed exclusively, they must also be available on an over-the-air station in those local markets. Additionally, mobile users in the U.S. with NFL+ can stream the matches on their devices.

The NFL’s decision to expand Christmas Day games onto a streaming platform primarily centers around financial incentives. The league will receive $150 million from Netflix for this season’s two games. This strategy aligns with the NFL’s broader trend towards streaming, as illustrated by the success of Thursday night games on Amazon Prime Video and the recent transition of the “Sunday Ticket” package to YouTube TV.

Despite Christmas falling on a Wednesday—typically a day without NFL action—the league aims to maximize viewership. Last year’s Christmas matchups drew an impressive average of 28.68 million viewers, with the early afternoon game between the Raiders and Chiefs leading the pack at 29.48 million viewers.

All four participating teams have already secured playoff berths, but playoff seeding remains fiercely competitive. Kansas City (14-1) can clinch the top seed, which provides a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, with a victory over Pittsburgh. The Steelers and Ravens are locked in a tie for the AFC North, with Pittsburgh currently having the edge due to a superior conference record. Meanwhile, Houston (9-6) has captured the AFC South title and stands as the fourth seed.

After experiencing streaming issues during the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight, Netflix has aimed to resolve these problems. Brandon Riegg, the company’s vice president of nonfiction series and sports, announced that the system underwent rigorous stress tests during that bout, which saw 65 million concurrent streams peak, causing significant outage reports. Heightened demand during the Christmas games is anticipated, especially around key moments coinciding with the halftime performance by Beyoncé.

In addition to Beyoncé, Mariah Carey will begin the Christmas festivities with a performance of her classic holiday hit, “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Speculation surrounds Taylor Swift’s potential appearance in Pittsburgh to support her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, as she has recently been spending time in Kansas City.

Looking ahead, the NFL plans to feature at least two games on December 25 in 2025 and 2026, maintaining a partnership with Netflix for at least one game each year during that period. Next year, Amazon Prime Video is set to host a nighttime game on Christmas when it coincides with a Thursday.

Expanding its sports portfolio, Netflix will commence its worldwide partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment on January 6, as “Monday Night Raw” transitions to the platform. Moreover, Netflix has acquired U.S. rights for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031, further diversifying its sports offerings.