The 2024 NFL Christmas Day schedule features two highly anticipated matchups, bringing festive excitement for football fans. At 1:00 p.m. ET, the Kansas City Chiefs will travel to Acrisure Stadium to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET. This marks the fifth year running for the NFL on Christmas Day, continuing the tradition with notable games.
Both games are being streamed live on Netflix, with local broadcasts available on CBS for the Chiefs vs. Steelers game. The unique collaboration between the NFL and Netflix highlights the league's efforts to broaden its viewership through different platforms.
Leading up to these Christmas matchups, the Kansas City Chiefs, boasting an impressive 14-1 record, are set to lock up the No. 1 seed with this pivotal encounter against the 10-5 Steelers, who are right on their tails. The Chiefs come off a recent victory against the Texans, clinching their playoff spot, and will look to capitalize on their momentum against Pittsburgh.
"This is the first time NFL games are streaming on Netflix," indicating the league's strategic shift to modern viewing habits, reported by various sources. Fans can easily access these games via the Netflix app on mobile devices and smart TVs, ensuring they don't miss any of the action.
Meanwhile, the Steelers aim to improve their playoff position and recover from their recent loss to the Ravens. With star quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading the charge, the Chiefs are positioned strongly but face challenges with injuries affecting their offensive line. Mahomes himself has battled through pain dealing with his high ankle sprain and appreciates the urgency of this game, considering his impressive record against coaches with Super Bowl victories—currently standing at 22-5.
The stats showcase the intense competition as the Steelers' defense prepares for the formidable Chiefs offense. Steelers' edge rushers Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig will play key roles as they apply pressure on Mahomes, creating game-defining moments.
Later on Christmas Day, the Baltimore Ravens (10-5) will face the Houston Texans (9-6), both teams eyeing playoff positioning. This matchup is charged with intensity, as historical data strongly favors the Ravens, who have dominated the Texans, outscoring them by 22.8 points on average per game since 2019, according to ESPN Research.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will need to be on top of his game to challenge the Ravens' improved defense, which has ranked first since their Week 10 adjustments. The Texans will miss key player Tank Dell, leaving them with the pressing need to forge new connections among their receiving corps.
Given both games involve teams with playoff stakes, the outcomes will play pivotal roles as the regular season draws to a close. Each game is not just about holiday spirit, but about pride, strategy, and, significantly, the chance to secure postseason berths.
The 2024 NFL Christmas Day games capture the essence of competition, excitement, and fan engagement, truly making them unmissable events on the sporting calendar. With everything to play for, the intensity will surely match the holiday buzz as viewers tune in for football joy on Christmas Day.
