No NFL Games on Christmas Eve? Think Again – Here’s What You Need to Know!
As the 2025 NFL regular season enters its penultimate week, fans are buzzing with excitement. Week 17 promises intense action with seven divisional matchups and four crucial head-to-heads between playoff contenders. But here's where it gets interesting: while Christmas Day is packed with games, Christmas Eve remains surprisingly quiet. Why no games on December 24th? Let’s dive into the holiday schedule and uncover the details.
Christmas Eve: A Rare NFL Break
For the 2025 season, the NFL has decided to skip scheduling games on Christmas Eve. This means no last-minute holiday football on December 24th. Instead, the league has spread the action across four other days this week, saving the festivities for Christmas Day itself. And this is the part most people miss: this isn’t the first time the NFL has avoided Christmas Eve games, but it’s still a point of debate among fans. Should the league embrace the holiday spirit with more games, or is the break a welcome change? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Christmas Day Tripleheader: A Festive Football Feast
For the fifth consecutive year, the NFL is bringing football to Christmas Day, but with a twist. This year, fans are treated to a tripleheader instead of the usual two games. The action kicks off with the Washington Commanders (4-11) hosting the Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1) at 1 p.m. ET. The Commanders, fresh off their Week 16 Saturday game, will look to end their season on a high note. Next up, the Minnesota Vikings (7-8) face the Detroit Lions (8-7) at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by the primetime matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) and the Denver Broncos (12-3) at 8:20 p.m. ET. Controversial question: Is three games too much for Christmas Day, or is it the perfect way to celebrate?
How to Watch the Christmas Games
Here’s the breakdown for each game, including streaming and broadcast details:
Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Location: Landover, Maryland
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Streaming: Netflix
- Channel: Local CBS affiliate (Washington D.C. and Dallas markets only)
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Streaming: Netflix
- Channel: Local CBS affiliate (Minneapolis and Detroit markets only)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
- Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Streaming: Prime Video
- Channel: Local NBC affiliate (Kansas City and Denver markets only)
Streaming Notes: Netflix will stream the first two games live, requiring a subscription for fans outside the competing teams’ markets. The Chiefs-Broncos game will be available on Amazon Prime, the home of "Thursday Night Football." Additionally, all games can be streamed on NFL+ for mobile viewers.
Final Thoughts
While Christmas Eve remains game-free, Christmas Day is packed with NFL action. Whether you’re team Netflix or Prime Video, there’s plenty of football to enjoy. But here’s a thought-provoking question to end on: Is the NFL’s holiday scheduling hitting the right balance, or should they reconsider Christmas Eve games? Share your opinions below – we’d love to hear from you!
