The traditional holiday viewing landscape is undergoing a dramatic shift, and this Christmas Day, viewers may discover if streaming giants can permanently carve out a new tradition against network television's decades-long dominance. With the National Football League (NFL) scheduling an unprecedented tripleheader, the way viewers celebrate the holiday is about to become more digital than ever before.

This bold move confirms the NFL’s aggressive pivot toward streaming, a major commercial play that promises to change sports broadcasting for years to come.

A full day of gridiron action is an exciting present for football fanatics, delivering three significant rivalry matchups.

This year, the Christmas Day schedule (25th of December), which falls on a Thursday, will feature three high-stakes matchups, delivering a perfect holiday feast for football enthusiasts. The action kicks off with an NFC East rivalry, then moves into a key NFC North clash, culminating in a fierce AFC West showdown.

The Dallas Cowboys will travel to face the Washington Commanders at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Detroit Lions battling the Minnesota Vikings at 4:30 p.m. ET. Both of these afternoon contests will be streamed live on Netflix, marking a significant milestone for the entertainment platform.

The triple-header concludes with the long-running rivalry between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs, which is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET. This primetime game will be broadcast exclusively on Prime Video as part of its existing Thursday Night Football package. Fans should note that for the two Netflix games, local broadcast television stations in the competing teams' markets will also carry the action.

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Following last year’s huge success, the streaming service is solidifying its role as a major sports broadcaster with two games.

The decision to grant Netflix exclusive rights to a Christmas Day doubleheader for the second consecutive year demonstrates a strong commitment to live sports content. The streamer's 2024 Christmas Day games, featuring the Chiefs and the Ravens, became the two most-streamed NFL games in United States history, averaging over 26.5 million viewers.

This proved that a global streaming platform can handle the massive production and viewership demands of an NFL live event. The 2025 afternoon slate showcases NFC divisional rivalries, which often deliver the most exciting and meaningful contests.

The Dallas Cowboys versus Washington Commanders matchup is a storied rivalry guaranteed to draw huge numbers. Similarly, the Detroit Lions against the Minnesota Vikings is a critical late-season divisional game, adding playoff implications to the holiday viewing. For fans outside the local markets, a Netflix subscription is essential to catch the action.

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Beyond the games, the star-studded broadcast crews and potential for major halftime performances elevate the holiday experience.

Live sports on streaming platforms are quickly becoming must-see events, and a critical component is the entertainment surrounding the game. While the specific 2025 halftime performers for the Netflix games have not yet been announced, the massive impact of Beyoncé's 2024 performance, which debuted songs from her ‘Cowboy Carter’ album, set an extremely high precedent.

According to Netflix Tudum, NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix is now considered an entertainment event on par with a Super Bowl halftime show. Furthermore, the broadcast booth will feature both returning and new talent, ensuring expert commentary.

The lineup includes the celebrated father-son duo of Ian and Noah Eagle, analyst Drew Brees, and former stars Nate Burleson and Michael Irvin. This strategic blending of recognisable voices with celebrity additions, such as WWE Superstar Seth Rollins, is part of the broader effort to make the stream engaging for both die-hard football fans and general viewers.

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With three games across two platforms, viewers must now navigate subscription costs to watch the full slate of Christmas football.

The shift of major NFL contests to streaming platforms means that watching all three Christmas Day games requires subscriptions to both Netflix and Prime Video. Netflix subscriptions range from a Basic plan to a Premium tier, costing between $7.99 and $24.99 per month.

Prime Video is available for $8.99 per month or included with a full Amazon Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month. The necessity of multiple streaming services for a single day of football highlights the raising cumulative cost of following the sport in the modern era.

This streaming strategy is part of the NFL’s goal to engage with a younger, cord-cutting audience and to expand its global reach.

Netflix's exclusive acquisition of the NFL Christmas Day doubleheader solidifies its intent to become a major player in live sports broadcasting, even after pulling its sports docuseries section. Following the record viewership of their 2024 games, these marquee matchups are a powerful tactic to attract new subscribers and reduce churn. Securing highly valuable, exclusive NFL content transforms Netflix from a purely on-demand platform into an essential destination for live events, fundamentally altering its long-term content and growth strategy.

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Are you excited to watch 2025 NFL Christmas Games? Let us know in the comments below.