(Credit: Netflix)
Americans love football. When you think about it, watching the big NFL games is a lot like celebrating a holiday, considering the food, friends, and family that are usually involved. So it's no surprise that we gather around the television to witness gridiron clashes during an actual holiday: Christmas.
Like all traditions, the ways we watch football evolve with the times. Thanks to video streaming services, you no longer need cable to catch all the pigskin action. We're here to tell you how to watch Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and other top football players battle during the NFL's Christmas Day games.
Where to Watch the NFL Christmas Games
Traditional live TV still has a lot of power and influence in live sports. However, you can catch pro football with a streaming TV service. This year, Netflix has the rights to stream two NFL Christmas games. This initial deal lasts for three seasons, so this might start a new Netflix/NFL holiday tradition.
The move may sound unusual for the typically on-demand service. However, Netflix has experimented with live sporting events, such as the Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul match (hopefully, the servers hold up better this time). Exclusive NFL games are a huge win for the streamer.
The games will also be broadcast on TV in the team's local markets, and you can catch them on NFL+.
Which NFL Teams Play on Christmas Day?
The NFL has two games slated for December 25, both streaming live on Netflix. In a nice touch, they're spaced far enough apart so that you have time to view both games, not just your favorite team. The matchups are:
- Kansas City Chiefs versus Pittsburgh Steelers at 1:00 p.m. EST
- Baltimore Ravens versus Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. EST
You can watch even more NFL excitement the next day courtesy of Thursday Night Football, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. That evening, the Seattle Seahawks take on the Chicago Bears at 8:15 p.m. EST
Beyoncé and Mariah: The NFL Christmas Music Headliners
The NFL Christmas football games may not be the Super Bowl, but they still draw big-name entertainers to perform for the huge crowds during halftime.
The Ravens-Texans halftime show will be headlined by one of the world's biggest music artists: the one and only Beyoncé Knowles Carter. Repping her hometown, Houston, Beyoncé will perform songs from her country album, Cowboy Carter, live for the first time. Based on Beyoncé's previous Super Bowl halftime performances in 2013 and 2016, we have high expectations.
We don't know any details yet about other artists who may also potentially perform live, either with Beyoncé or during the earlier Chiefs vs. Steelers game. However, the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, has prerecorded a performance of her classic "All I Want for Christmas Is You" that will play before the Netflix football games begin.
More on Streaming NFL Football
Want to watch the entire ongoing football season? Check out our favorite NFL streaming services, as well as our guide on how to watch every NFL game without cable.